Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Kandana Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Kandana

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $733 in Colombo versus $536 in Kandana.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,166 in Colombo versus $866 in Kandana.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,598 in Colombo versus $1,196 in Kandana.

Living in Colombo is roughly 37% more expensive than Kandana, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 45% lower, Kandana 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.08 LKR 1,302

$3.94 LKR 1,257

3.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.75 LKR 7,894

$24.82 LKR 7,915

-0.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 LKR 2,591

$8.24 LKR 2,627

-1.46%

Cappuccino

$2.74 LKR 874

$2.64 LKR 841

3.79%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 LKR 216

$0.74 LKR 235

-8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 129

$0.38 LKR 120

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 LKR 726

$2.33 LKR 743

-2.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 LKR 1,047

$3.25 LKR 1,038

0.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 LKR 559

$1.78 LKR 567

-1.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 180

$0.53 LKR 168

5.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 261

$0.80 LKR 255

2.50%

Eggs

$2.12 LKR 677

$2.18 LKR 696

-2.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 LKR 4,529

$14.01 LKR 4,469

1.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 LKR 1,496

$4.60 LKR 1,465

1.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.89 LKR 2,515

$7.83 LKR 2,498

0.77%

Apples (1kg)

$7.39 LKR 2,355

$7.55 LKR 2,407

-2.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 339

$1.11 LKR 355

-4.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.68 LKR 1,812

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 LKR 389

$1.21 LKR 386

0.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 369

$1.11 LKR 354

4.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 LKR 447

$1.37 LKR 437

2.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 LKR 377

$1.20 LKR 384

-1.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 182

$0.60 LKR 191

-5.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.90 LKR 3,159

$10.23 LKR 3,262

-3.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.46 LKR 3,974

$12.68 LKR 4,045

-1.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 LKR 649

$2.03 LKR 646

0.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 LKR 904

$2.86 LKR 912

-1.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 LKR 58.7

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.09 LKR 1,622

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 123

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 112

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 LKR 197

$0.58 LKR 185

6.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 LKR 381

$1.22 LKR 388

-2.46%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.3K LKR 8.7M

$26.5K LKR 8.5M

2.75%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.2K LKR 10.9M

$34.8K LKR 11.1M

-1.79%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$60.9 LKR 19.4K

$61.1 LKR 19.5K

-0.28%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.38 LKR 1,398

$4.42 LKR 1,411

-0.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.01 LKR 4,788

$15.36 LKR 4,897

-2.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.68 LKR 4,682

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.46 LKR 2,379

Cinema Ticket

$3.44 LKR 1,096

$3.31 LKR 1,054

3.93%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$37.27 LKR 11.9K

$36.31 LKR 11.6K

2.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$433 LKR 138.0K

$446 LKR 142.1K

-2.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.07 LKR 8,951

$27.14 LKR 8,655

3.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.31 LKR 6,158

$19.00 LKR 6,060

1.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.5 LKR 22.5K

$70.4 LKR 22.4K

0.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.98 LKR 12.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 117.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 LKR 57.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$970 LKR 309.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$364 LKR 116.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,591 LKR 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,225 LKR 390.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$241 LKR 76.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Colombo: April 26, 2026

Last update for Kandana: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Colombo vs $25.00 in Kandana for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $255 vs $256 per month, with Colombo cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Colombo vs Kandana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kandana wins on cost – living expenses run 37% lower than in Colombo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kandana the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,100 in Colombo and $804 in Kandana to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Childcare runs $37.27 in Colombo versus $36.31 in Kandana. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kandana – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $25.00 in Colombo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Kandana gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Kandana delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $536 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kandana hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Colombo and Kandana are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kandana gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.