🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $717 in Colombo versus $833 in Maceio - Alagoas.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,166 in Colombo versus $1,268 in Maceio - Alagoas.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,615 in Colombo versus $1,703 in Maceio - Alagoas.
🙂Living in Colombo costs roughly 14% less than in Maceio - Alagoas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo46% lower, Maceio - Alagoas38% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Colombo
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.13LKR 1,369
$4.76R$23.82
-13.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.16LKR 8,344
$21.77R$109
15.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.20LKR 2,719
$5.38R$26.92
52.42%
Cappuccino
$2.66LKR 882
$1.87R$9.36
42.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68LKR 224
$0.96R$4.81
-29.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41LKR 135
$0.45R$2.27
-8.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39LKR 793
$1.46R$7.30
63.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43LKR 1,136
$2.68R$13.41
27.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Colombo
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73LKR 574
$1.07R$5.37
61.68%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53LKR 175
$1.30R$6.49
-59.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.83LKR 274
$0.92R$4.60
-9.78%
Eggs
$2.23LKR 739
$2.28R$11.42
-2.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.02LKR 4,648
$6.48R$32.45
116.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.65LKR 1,543
$3.25R$16.26
43.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.01LKR 2,657
$7.24R$36.22
10.64%
Apples(1kg)
$7.37LKR 2,444
$2.43R$12.15
203.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.12LKR 371
$1.07R$5.36
4.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.83LKR 1,934
$1.28R$6.41
355.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.25LKR 414
$1.24R$6.23
0.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14LKR 379
$1.32R$6.63
-13.64%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42LKR 470
$1.18R$5.90
20.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14LKR 379
$0.58R$2.90
96.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59LKR 196
$0.61R$3.03
-3.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.01LKR 3,321
$1.89R$9.47
429.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.73LKR 4,220
$7.15R$35.77
78.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11LKR 699
$1.44R$7.20
46.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97LKR 985
$1.30R$6.49
128.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Colombo
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.14LKR 48.01
$0.70R$3.50
-80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.09LKR 1,687
$39.27R$197
-87.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.38LKR 128
$0.38R$1.88
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33LKR 109
$0.32R$1.62
3.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.60LKR 199
$6.18R$30.95
-90.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26LKR 416
$1.05R$5.24
20.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8KLKR 8.9M
$24.8KR$124.2K
7.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.2KLKR 11.7M
$29.4KR$147.3K
19.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Colombo
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.5LKR 20.1K
$72.6R$363
-16.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.27LKR 1,416
$17.54R$87.8
-75.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.34LKR 5,086
$15.20R$76.0
0.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Colombo
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.79LKR 4,903
$22.96R$115
-35.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.11LKR 2,358
$21.76R$109
-67.33%
Cinema Ticket
$3.28LKR 1,086
$5.46R$27.31
-39.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Colombo
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$37.28LKR 12.4K
$231R$1,156
-83.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$444LKR 147.1K
$4,795R$24.0K
-90.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Colombo
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.15LKR 9,002
$49.12R$246
-44.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.13LKR 6,344
$68.0R$340
-71.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.7LKR 23.4K
$89.3R$447
-20.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.24LKR 12.7K
$72.8R$364
-47.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Colombo
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$379LKR 125.7K
$247R$1,238
53.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$178LKR 59.0K
$256R$1,282
-30.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$937LKR 310.7K
$534R$2,674
75.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$361LKR 119.6K
$421R$2,108
-14.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,724LKR 1.2M
$1,516R$7,586
145.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,189LKR 394.1K
$688R$3,443
72.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Colombo
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$247LKR 82.1K
$588R$2,942
-57.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.45
9.5
73.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Colombo: May 30, 2026
Last update for Maceio - Alagoas: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $379 in Colombo and $247 in Maceio - Alagoas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Maceio - Alagoas pays 138% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in Colombo vs $22.00 in Maceio - Alagoas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $257 vs $164 per month, with Maceio - Alagoas 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 Maceio - Alagoas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Colombo or Maceio - Alagoas?
Colombo wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Maceio - Alagoas. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Colombo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Colombo or Maceio - Alagoas?
On paper, Maceio - Alagoas earns 138% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Colombo vs Maceio - Alagoas?
Rent for a central apartment: $379 in Colombo versus $247 in Maceio - Alagoas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Colombo or Maceio - Alagoas?
Shoppers in Maceio - Alagoas pay roughly 57% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Colombo vs Maceio - Alagoas?
Dining out is cheaper in Colombo – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $22.00 in Maceio - Alagoas. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Colombo or Maceio - Alagoas?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Colombo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Colombo or Maceio - Alagoas?
Both work as nomad bases, but Colombo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $717 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Colombo hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Colombo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Maceio - Alagoas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.