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: $727 in Colombo versus $520 in Kolonnawa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,162 in Colombo versus $833 in Kolonnawa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,596 in Colombo versus $1,147 in Kolonnawa.

Living in Colombo is roughly 40% more expensive than in Kolonnawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 45% lower, Kolonnawa 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.93 LKR 1,316

$4.09 LKR 1,370

-3.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 LKR 8,337

$24.71 LKR 8,280

0.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.46 LKR 2,834

$8.12 LKR 2,721

4.19%

Cappuccino

$2.74 LKR 919

$2.76 LKR 923

-0.72%

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

$0.75 LKR 250

$0.68 LKR 228

10.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 135

$0.41 LKR 136

-2.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 776

$2.31 LKR 773

0.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 LKR 1,097

$3.43 LKR 1,148

-4.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LKR 595

$1.68 LKR 564

5.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 188

$0.53 LKR 176

5.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 293

$0.72 LKR 240

20.83%

Eggs

$2.18 LKR 731

$2.11 LKR 706

3.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.99 LKR 4,687

$8.26 LKR 2,766

69.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 LKR 1,579

$4.64 LKR 1,553

1.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.21 LKR 2,751

$8.22 LKR 2,753

-0.12%

Apples (1kg)

$7.43 LKR 2,491

$7.60 LKR 2,548

-2.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 355

$1.12 LKR 375

-5.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.73 LKR 1,920

$5.82 LKR 1,949

-1.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 423

$1.21 LKR 404

4.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 372

$1.10 LKR 369

0.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 475

$1.41 LKR 472

0.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 LKR 388

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 187

$0.48 LKR 161

16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.07 LKR 3,376

$9.94 LKR 3,330

1.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.68 LKR 4,248

$10.28 LKR 3,443

23.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 LKR 695

$1.96 LKR 657

6.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 995

$2.33 LKR 781

27.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 LKR 55.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.07 LKR 1,700

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 140

$0.38 LKR 128

10.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 LKR 109

$0.33 LKR 110

-3.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 194

$0.61 LKR 204

-4.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 404

$1.25 LKR 419

-3.20%

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

$26.4K LKR 8.8M

$26.6K LKR 8.9M

-0.99%

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

$35.4K LKR 11.9M

$34.2K LKR 11.5M

3.47%

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

$59.7 LKR 20.0K

$59.1 LKR 19.8K

0.98%

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

$4.30 LKR 1,439

$4.25 LKR 1,423

1.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.04 LKR 5,038

$15.11 LKR 5,062

-0.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.69 LKR 4,921

$10.22 LKR 3,426

43.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.27 LKR 2,437

$1.70 LKR 571

327.65%

Cinema Ticket

$3.45 LKR 1,155

$3.37 LKR 1,128

2.37%

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

$36.16 LKR 12.1K

$37.46 LKR 12.6K

-3.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$448 LKR 150.0K

$439 LKR 147.0K

2.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.11 LKR 9,084

$27.58 LKR 9,241

-1.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.30 LKR 6,468

$19.31 LKR 6,471

-0.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 LKR 23.7K

$69.6 LKR 23.3K

1.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.20 LKR 13.1K

$38.41 LKR 12.9K

2.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 123.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 LKR 60.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$940 LKR 315.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 LKR 123.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,615 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,180 LKR 395.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$244 LKR 81.8K

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Kolonnawa: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Colombo vs $25.00 in Kolonnawa. Groceries flip the comparison at $258 vs $232, 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 40% 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 $1,091 in Colombo and $780 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 $36.16 in Colombo versus $37.46 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 $520 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 40% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.