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: $805 in Colombo versus $132 in Maharagama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,206 in Colombo versus $246 in Maharagama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,607 in Colombo versus $360 in Maharagama.

Living in Colombo is roughly 511% more expensive than in Maharagama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 41% lower, Maharagama 90% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.36 LKR 1,442

$5.20 LKR 1,719

-16.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.64 LKR 8,478

$20.09 LKR 6,642

27.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.51 LKR 2,482

$7.02 LKR 2,321

6.98%

Cappuccino

$2.57 LKR 851

$2.13 LKR 705

20.66%

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

$0.69 LKR 228

$0.61 LKR 201

13.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 LKR 89.6

$0.29 LKR 94.3

-6.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 LKR 738

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 LKR 1,014

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 LKR 534

$0.90 LKR 297

78.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 LKR 189

$0.25 LKR 82.7

128.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.78 LKR 259

$0.51 LKR 168

52.94%

Eggs

$1.65 LKR 545

$1.44 LKR 476

14.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.07 LKR 4,321

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 LKR 1,669

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.12 LKR 2,355

Apples (1kg)

$6.96 LKR 2,303

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 271

Oranges (1kg)

$4.31 LKR 1,426

Tomato (1kg)

$1.23 LKR 407

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 LKR 330

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 267

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 LKR 309

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 LKR 152

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.14 LKR 3,353

Wine (Bottle)

$13.53 LKR 4,473

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 LKR 632

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 LKR 943

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 LKR 55.5

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.05 LKR 2,332

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 127

$0.45 LKR 148

-15.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 LKR 123

$0.48 LKR 159

-22.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 LKR 292

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 LKR 446

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

$37.2K LKR 12.3M

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

$40.9K LKR 13.5M

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

$55.6 LKR 18.4K

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

$4.17 LKR 1,380

$4.69 LKR 1,549

-11.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 LKR 6,784

$13.87 LKR 4,587

47.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.69 LKR 4,858

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.82 LKR 1,924

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 LKR 1,501

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

$38.14 LKR 12.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,226 LKR 405.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.94 LKR 6,593

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.86 LKR 5,576

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.6 LKR 26.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.33 LKR 14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$601 LKR 198.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 LKR 88.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,486 LKR 491.2K

$200 LKR 66.1K

643.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 LKR 142.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,735 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,192 LKR 394.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$250 LKR 82.7K

$248 LKR 81.9K

1.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

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

Last update for Colombo: September 15, 2026

Last update for Maharagama: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Colombo pays 1% 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: $26.00 in Colombo vs $20.00 in Maharagama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $237 vs $19.00 per month, with Maharagama 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 Maharagama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maharagama wins on cost – living expenses run 511% 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.

Average pay runs 1% higher in Colombo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

All in, you'll spend $805 per month in Colombo versus $132 in Maharagama – a 511% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1128% higher in Colombo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $132 in Maharagama versus $805 in Colombo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maharagama but tight or insufficient in Colombo. The gap between the two cities makes Maharagama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Maharagama delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $132 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 511% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.