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: $733 in Colombo versus $472 in Maharagama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,166 in Colombo versus $789 in Maharagama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,598 in Colombo versus $1,106 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

$4.08 LKR 1,302

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.75 LKR 7,894

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 LKR 2,591

Cappuccino

$2.74 LKR 874

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

$0.68 LKR 216

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 129

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 LKR 726

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 LKR 1,047

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 LKR 559

$1.95 LKR 622

-10.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 180

$0.51 LKR 163

9.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 261

$0.76 LKR 243

7.89%

Eggs

$2.12 LKR 677

$2.11 LKR 672

0.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 LKR 4,529

$16.26 LKR 5,186

-12.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 LKR 1,496

$5.78 LKR 1,842

-18.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.89 LKR 2,515

$10.74 LKR 3,425

-26.54%

Apples (1kg)

$7.39 LKR 2,355

$11.49 LKR 3,665

-35.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 339

$1.23 LKR 392

-13.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.68 LKR 1,812

$10.00 LKR 3,188

-43.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 LKR 389

$1.85 LKR 591

-34.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 369

$1.16 LKR 368

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 LKR 447

$1.16 LKR 371

20.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 LKR 377

$1.63 LKR 519

-27.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 182

$0.61 LKR 193

-6.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.90 LKR 3,159

$9.78 LKR 3,118

1.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.46 LKR 3,974

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 LKR 649

$1.99 LKR 635

2.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 LKR 904

$3.24 LKR 1,033

-12.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 LKR 58.7

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.09 LKR 1,622

$3.30 LKR 1,051

54.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 123

$0.32 LKR 101

21.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 112

$0.31 LKR 99.5

12.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 LKR 197

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 LKR 381

$1.37 LKR 438

-13.14%

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

$27.3K LKR 8.7M

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

$34.2K LKR 10.9M

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

$60.9 LKR 19.4K

$53.7 LKR 17.1K

13.45%

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

$4.38 LKR 1,398

$3.44 LKR 1,097

27.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.01 LKR 4,788

$12.68 LKR 4,044

18.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.68 LKR 4,682

$13.44 LKR 4,288

9.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.46 LKR 2,379

Cinema Ticket

$3.44 LKR 1,096

$5.09 LKR 1,622

-32.42%

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

$37.27 LKR 11.9K

$68.0 LKR 21.7K

-45.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$433 LKR 138.0K

$510 LKR 162.7K

-15.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.07 LKR 8,951

$24.77 LKR 7,899

13.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.31 LKR 6,158

$13.55 LKR 4,322

42.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.5 LKR 22.5K

$54.8 LKR 17.5K

28.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.98 LKR 12.4K

$58.3 LKR 18.6K

-33.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 117.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 LKR 57.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$970 LKR 309.3K

$165 LKR 52.5K

488.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$364 LKR 116.0K

$116 LKR 36.9K

214.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,591 LKR 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,225 LKR 390.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$241 LKR 76.7K

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Maharagama: April 26, 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 $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 $37.27 in Colombo versus $68.0 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 54% 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.