Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Kolonnawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Kolonnawa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $725 in Colombo versus $507 in Kolonnawa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,160 in Colombo versus $826 in Kolonnawa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,595 in Colombo versus $1,144 in Kolonnawa.

Living in Colombo is roughly 43% more expensive than Kolonnawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 46% lower, Kolonnawa 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 LKR 1,326

$4.08 LKR 1,361

-2.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.39 LKR 8,469

$25.32 LKR 8,445

0.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.59 LKR 2,865

$8.28 LKR 2,761

3.74%

Cappuccino

$2.61 LKR 872

$2.75 LKR 918

-5.09%

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

$0.73 LKR 242

$0.69 LKR 231

5.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 126

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 LKR 769

$2.30 LKR 767

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 LKR 1,087

$3.26 LKR 1,088

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 LKR 564

$1.72 LKR 573

-1.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 186

$0.52 LKR 174

7.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 274

$0.74 LKR 247

10.81%

Eggs

$2.21 LKR 738

$2.16 LKR 719

2.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.16 LKR 4,724

$8.26 LKR 2,755

71.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.74 LKR 1,581

$4.71 LKR 1,572

0.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.28 LKR 2,761

$8.07 LKR 2,693

2.60%

Apples (1kg)

$7.44 LKR 2,480

$7.32 LKR 2,442

1.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 370

$1.07 LKR 358

3.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.89 LKR 1,966

$5.80 LKR 1,935

1.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 LKR 400

$1.26 LKR 422

-4.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 387

$1.10 LKR 366

5.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 LKR 452

$1.40 LKR 466

-2.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 LKR 396

$1.15 LKR 383

3.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 201

$0.52 LKR 172

15.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.17 LKR 3,392

$9.92 LKR 3,310

2.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.86 LKR 4,290

$10.34 LKR 3,447

24.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 LKR 703

$1.99 LKR 664

6.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 LKR 997

$2.43 LKR 809

23.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 LKR 64.5

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.96 LKR 1,656

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 129

$0.41 LKR 137

-4.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 117

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 LKR 188

$0.60 LKR 200

-6.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 421

$1.20 LKR 401

5.00%

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

$26.8K LKR 9.0M

$27.0K LKR 9.0M

-0.58%

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

$34.7K LKR 11.6M

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

-1.48%

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

$60.9 LKR 20.3K

$59.9 LKR 20.0K

1.74%

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

$4.29 LKR 1,433

$4.21 LKR 1,404

1.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.85 LKR 4,954

$14.88 LKR 4,964

-0.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.58 LKR 4,862

$10.13 LKR 3,379

43.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.44 LKR 2,482

$1.66 LKR 553

348.19%

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,093

$3.38 LKR 1,129

-2.96%

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

$36.45 LKR 12.2K

$37.47 LKR 12.5K

-2.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$440 LKR 146.8K

$439 LKR 146.5K

0.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.09 LKR 9,369

$27.75 LKR 9,258

1.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.63 LKR 6,549

$19.76 LKR 6,591

-0.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.0 LKR 23.3K

$68.2 LKR 22.7K

2.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.80 LKR 12.9K

$38.86 LKR 13.0K

-0.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 LKR 122.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 LKR 58.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$937 LKR 312.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 LKR 122.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,583 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,157 LKR 385.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$240 LKR 80.0K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kolonnawa: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Colombo vs $25.00 in Kolonnawa. Groceries flip the comparison at $259 vs $231, with Kolonnawa cheaper for home cooking.

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 Kolonnawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kolonnawa wins on cost – living expenses run 43% lower than in Colombo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kolonnawa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,087 in Colombo and $761 in Kolonnawa 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 $36.45 in Colombo versus $37.47 in Kolonnawa. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kolonnawa – 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 $800 a month, though Kolonnawa 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 Kolonnawa delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $507 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kolonnawa hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Colombo and Kolonnawa 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 Kolonnawa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.