Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Maharagama Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Maharagama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $727 in Colombo versus $473 in Maharagama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,162 in Colombo versus $789 in Maharagama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,596 in Colombo versus $1,105 in Maharagama.

Living in Colombo is roughly 54% more expensive than in Maharagama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 45% lower, Maharagama 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.93 LKR 1,318

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 LKR 8,349

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.46 LKR 2,839

Cappuccino

$2.74 LKR 920

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

$0.75 LKR 250

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 136

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 777

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 LKR 1,098

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LKR 596

$1.92 LKR 644

-7.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 188

$0.49 LKR 164

14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 293

$0.73 LKR 246

19.18%

Eggs

$2.18 LKR 733

$2.07 LKR 694

5.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.99 LKR 4,694

$16.11 LKR 5,405

-13.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 LKR 1,582

$5.95 LKR 1,995

-20.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.21 LKR 2,755

$10.91 LKR 3,661

-24.75%

Apples (1kg)

$7.43 LKR 2,495

$11.62 LKR 3,898

-36.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 356

$1.25 LKR 419

-15.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.73 LKR 1,923

$10.10 LKR 3,389

-43.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 423

$1.83 LKR 613

-31.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 373

$1.19 LKR 400

-6.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 476

$1.21 LKR 407

17.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 LKR 388

$1.61 LKR 541

-27.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 187

$0.62 LKR 208

-9.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.07 LKR 3,381

$9.84 LKR 3,303

2.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.68 LKR 4,254

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 LKR 696

$2.06 LKR 691

0.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 997

$3.25 LKR 1,090

-8.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 LKR 55.2

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.07 LKR 1,702

$3.44 LKR 1,154

47.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 140

$0.34 LKR 115

23.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 LKR 109

$0.31 LKR 105

3.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 194

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 404

$1.43 LKR 478

-15.38%

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

$26.4K LKR 8.9M

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

$35.4K LKR 11.9M

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

$59.7 LKR 20.0K

$53.5 LKR 18.0K

11.63%

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

$4.30 LKR 1,441

$3.28 LKR 1,101

31.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.04 LKR 5,045

$12.46 LKR 4,182

20.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.69 LKR 4,929

$13.51 LKR 4,534

8.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.27 LKR 2,441

Cinema Ticket

$3.45 LKR 1,157

$5.09 LKR 1,706

-32.22%

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

$36.16 LKR 12.1K

$68.3 LKR 22.9K

-47.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$448 LKR 150.2K

$500 LKR 167.8K

-10.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.11 LKR 9,097

$24.80 LKR 8,321

9.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.30 LKR 6,478

$13.30 LKR 4,464

45.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 LKR 23.7K

$56.2 LKR 18.9K

25.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.20 LKR 13.2K

$58.1 LKR 19.5K

-32.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 123.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 LKR 60.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$940 LKR 315.4K

$165 LKR 55.5K

468.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 LKR 123.8K

$115 LKR 38.6K

221.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,615 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,180 LKR 395.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$244 LKR 81.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

-3.24%

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

Last update for Colombo: July 28, 2026

Last update for Maharagama: July 27, 2026

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 Maharagama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maharagama wins on cost – living expenses run 54% lower than in Colombo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Maharagama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,091 in Colombo and $709 in Maharagama 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 $68.3 in Maharagama. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

A monthly transit pass in Maharagama runs roughly 47% less than in Colombo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Maharagama 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 Maharagama delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $473 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Maharagama hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Colombo and Maharagama 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 Maharagama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.