Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Kandy Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Kandy

😐 Solo nomad: Colombo is 18.6% more expensive than Kandy without rent, and 33.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Colombo is 42% more expensive than Kandy without rent, and 40.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
šŸ½ Eating Out
Colombo
Kandy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.98 LKRĀ 1,236
$2.74 LKRĀ 852
45.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.32 LKRĀ 7,868
$11.56 LKRĀ 3,591
119.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.48 LKRĀ 2,635
$6.55 LKRĀ 2,036
29.47%
Cappuccino
$2.73 LKRĀ 847
$2.69 LKRĀ 837
1.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 LKRĀ 229
$0.60 LKRĀ 187
23.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 LKRĀ 115
$0.32 LKRĀ 99.9
15.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 LKRĀ 748
$2.12 LKRĀ 659
13.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 LKRĀ 1,029
$3.44 LKRĀ 1,068
-3.78%
šŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Colombo
Kandy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 LKRĀ 528
$1.39 LKRĀ 433
22.30%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 LKRĀ 175
$0.56 LKRĀ 175
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.83 LKRĀ 257
$0.85 LKRĀ 265
-2.35%
Eggs
$2.20 LKRĀ 683
$2.10 LKRĀ 654
4.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.25 LKRĀ 4,428
$8.86 LKRĀ 2,754
60.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.70 LKRĀ 1,462
$4.78 LKRĀ 1,485
-1.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.87 LKRĀ 2,444
$8.26 LKRĀ 2,567
-4.72%
Apples (1kg)
$7.49 LKRĀ 2,328
$4.49 LKRĀ 1,394
66.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 LKRĀ 346
$0.98 LKRĀ 306
13.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.85 LKRĀ 1,819
$3.73 LKRĀ 1,160
56.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.22 LKRĀ 378
$1.26 LKRĀ 393
-3.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.10 LKRĀ 341
$1.10 LKRĀ 342
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.43 LKRĀ 445
$1.26 LKRĀ 391
13.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 LKRĀ 356
$0.78 LKRĀ 242
46.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 LKRĀ 188
$0.60 LKRĀ 187
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.23 LKRĀ 3,178
$9.15 LKRĀ 2,842
11.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.67 LKRĀ 3,937
$12.33 LKRĀ 3,832
2.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 LKRĀ 649
$2.01 LKRĀ 624
3.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 LKRĀ 914
$2.81 LKRĀ 873
4.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Colombo
Kandy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 LKRĀ 59.3
$0.17 LKRĀ 53.0
11.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.94 LKRĀ 1,534
$14.81 LKRĀ 4,601
-66.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.41 LKRĀ 128
$0.42 LKRĀ 130
-2.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 LKRĀ 110
$0.35 LKRĀ 110
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 LKRĀ 177
$0.44 LKRĀ 136
29.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 LKRĀ 388
$1.21 LKRĀ 377
3.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K LKRĀ 8.3M
$17.7K LKRĀ 5.5M
50.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K LKRĀ 11.0M
$21.0K LKRĀ 6.5M
68.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Colombo
Kandy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$59.5 LKRĀ 18.5K
$40.14 LKRĀ 12.5K
48.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.46 LKRĀ 1,386
$4.23 LKRĀ 1,316
5.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.16 LKRĀ 4,711
$15.38 LKRĀ 4,781
-1.43%
šŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Colombo
Kandy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.28 LKRĀ 4,436
$15.11 LKRĀ 4,695
-5.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.05 LKRĀ 2,191
$5.60 LKRĀ 1,740
25.89%
Cinema Ticket
$3.38 LKRĀ 1,050
$3.32 LKRĀ 1,033
1.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Colombo
Kandy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$36.49 LKRĀ 11.3K
$37.55 LKRĀ 11.7K
-2.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$444 LKRĀ 138.1K
$327 LKRĀ 101.7K
35.72%
šŸ‘•šŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Colombo
Kandy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.90 LKRĀ 8,670
$27.16 LKRĀ 8,439
2.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.17 LKRĀ 5,958
$14.47 LKRĀ 4,496
32.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.8 LKRĀ 21.4K
$58.0 LKRĀ 18.0K
18.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.47 LKRĀ 12.0K
$29.05 LKRĀ 9,027
32.43%
šŸ  Accommodation & Living
Colombo
Kandy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$372 LKRĀ 115.6K
$133 LKRĀ 41.4K
179.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$177 LKRĀ 54.9K
$82.5 LKRĀ 25.6K
114.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$969 LKRĀ 301.2K
$214 LKRĀ 66.5K
352.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$360 LKRĀ 111.9K
$164 LKRĀ 51.0K
119.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,705 LKRĀ 1.2M
$438 LKRĀ 136.2K
745.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,248 LKRĀ 387.9K
$435 LKRĀ 135.3K
186.64%
šŸ’µ Salaries & Financials
Colombo
Kandy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$241 LKRĀ 74.8K
$267 LKRĀ 82.9K
-9.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.45
15
9.67%

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

Last update for Colombo: March 2, 2026

Last update for Kandy: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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