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: $734 in Colombo versus $472 in Maharagama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,167 in Colombo versus $797 in Maharagama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,600 in Colombo versus $1,122 in Maharagama.

Living in Colombo is roughly 55% more expensive than Maharagama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 45% lower, Maharagama 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 LKR 1,321

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.86 LKR 8,280

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 LKR 2,706

Cappuccino

$2.62 LKR 874

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

$0.73 LKR 242

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 134

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 LKR 785

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 LKR 1,097

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 LKR 573

$1.85 LKR 616

-7.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 186

$0.52 LKR 174

7.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 290

$0.76 LKR 254

14.47%

Eggs

$2.20 LKR 732

$2.02 LKR 674

8.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.23 LKR 4,739

$15.86 LKR 5,282

-10.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 LKR 1,527

$5.81 LKR 1,936

-21.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 LKR 2,623

$11.04 LKR 3,677

-28.62%

Apples (1kg)

$7.62 LKR 2,538

$11.73 LKR 3,906

-35.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 355

$1.23 LKR 410

-13.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.74 LKR 1,910

$10.08 LKR 3,357

-43.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 420

$1.89 LKR 628

-33.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 LKR 381

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 LKR 451

$1.15 LKR 382

17.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 399

$1.55 LKR 518

-22.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 201

$0.58 LKR 193

3.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.17 LKR 3,387

$9.87 LKR 3,288

3.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.62 LKR 4,204

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 LKR 693

$1.97 LKR 657

5.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 LKR 994

$3.21 LKR 1,068

-7.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 LKR 61.7

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.99 LKR 1,662

$3.44 LKR 1,145

45.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 140

$0.34 LKR 114

23.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 119

$0.31 LKR 104

16.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 201

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 400

$1.38 LKR 460

-13.04%

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

$27.3K LKR 9.1M

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

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

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

$60.9 LKR 20.3K

$53.1 LKR 17.7K

14.73%

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

$4.40 LKR 1,467

$3.28 LKR 1,091

34.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.04 LKR 5,010

$12.43 LKR 4,140

21.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.47 LKR 4,818

$13.16 LKR 4,383

9.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.12 LKR 2,370

Cinema Ticket

$3.39 LKR 1,128

$4.93 LKR 1,643

-31.24%

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

$37.30 LKR 12.4K

$66.6 LKR 22.2K

-43.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$435 LKR 145.0K

$494 LKR 164.4K

-11.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.64 LKR 9,205

$25.32 LKR 8,432

9.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.42 LKR 6,466

$13.38 LKR 4,455

45.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.6 LKR 22.9K

$55.9 LKR 18.6K

22.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.17 LKR 13.0K

$59.8 LKR 19.9K

-34.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$370 LKR 123.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 LKR 57.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$955 LKR 318.1K

$164 LKR 54.7K

481.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 LKR 120.9K

$119 LKR 39.5K

206.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,656 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,151 LKR 383.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$248 LKR 82.5K

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Maharagama: June 16, 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 55% 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 $1,100 in Colombo and $708 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 $37.30 in Colombo versus $66.6 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 45% 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 $472 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 55% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.