Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Moratuwa Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Moratuwa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $718 in Colombo versus $74.5 in Moratuwa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,153 in Colombo versus $127 in Moratuwa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,588 in Colombo versus $179 in Moratuwa.

Living in Colombo is roughly 863% more expensive than in Moratuwa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 46% lower, Moratuwa 94% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.07 LKR 1,366

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.28 LKR 8,492

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.60 LKR 2,891

Cappuccino

$2.71 LKR 909

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

$0.69 LKR 232

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 136

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 LKR 764

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 LKR 1,099

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 LKR 571

$1.38 LKR 464

23.19%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 LKR 185

$0.48 LKR 161

14.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 295

$0.96 LKR 321

-8.33%

Eggs

$2.14 LKR 721

$2.73 LKR 917

-21.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.88 LKR 4,662

$13.43 LKR 4,511

3.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 LKR 1,606

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.09 LKR 2,717

Apples (1kg)

$7.65 LKR 2,570

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 359

Oranges (1kg)

$5.84 LKR 1,963

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 421

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 LKR 384

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 LKR 458

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 403

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 190

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.99 LKR 3,358

Wine (Bottle)

$12.70 LKR 4,266

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 LKR 702

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 LKR 974

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 LKR 54.7

$0.10 LKR 34.51

60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.93 LKR 1,657

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 129

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 119

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 LKR 207

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 LKR 401

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

$27.2K LKR 9.1M

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

$34.3K LKR 11.5M

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

$59.6 LKR 20.0K

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

$4.30 LKR 1,444

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.37 LKR 5,165

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.83 LKR 4,984

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.39 LKR 2,484

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,103

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

$36.45 LKR 12.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$442 LKR 148.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.73 LKR 9,318

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.12 LKR 6,425

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 LKR 23.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.30 LKR 13.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 123.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 LKR 58.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$971 LKR 326.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 LKR 123.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,586 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,156 LKR 388.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$251 LKR 84.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

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

Last update for Colombo: July 11, 2026

Last update for Moratuwa: July 12, 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 Moratuwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moratuwa wins on cost – living expenses run 863% lower than in Colombo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Moratuwa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,076 in Colombo and $112 in Moratuwa 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 251% higher in Colombo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $718 per month in Colombo versus $74.5 in Moratuwa – a 863% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Moratuwa 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 Moratuwa delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $74.5 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Moratuwa hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Colombo and Moratuwa 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 Moratuwa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 863% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.