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: $717 in Colombo versus $72.9 in Moratuwa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,166 in Colombo versus $125 in Moratuwa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,615 in Colombo versus $177 in Moratuwa.

Living in Colombo is roughly 885% more expensive than Moratuwa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 46% lower, Moratuwa 95% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.13 LKR 1,369

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.16 LKR 8,344

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.20 LKR 2,719

Cappuccino

$2.66 LKR 882

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

$0.68 LKR 224

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 135

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 LKR 793

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 LKR 1,136

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 LKR 574

$1.40 LKR 463

23.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 175

$0.49 LKR 161

8.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 274

$0.92 LKR 306

-9.78%

Eggs

$2.23 LKR 739

$2.62 LKR 870

-14.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.02 LKR 4,648

$13.62 LKR 4,518

2.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.65 LKR 1,543

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.01 LKR 2,657

Apples (1kg)

$7.37 LKR 2,444

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 371

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 LKR 1,934

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 414

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 LKR 379

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 470

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 LKR 379

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 LKR 196

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.01 LKR 3,321

Wine (Bottle)

$12.73 LKR 4,220

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 LKR 699

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 985

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 LKR 48.01

$0.11 LKR 36.05

27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.09 LKR 1,687

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 128

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 109

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 199

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 416

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

$26.8K LKR 8.9M

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)

$60.5 LKR 20.1K

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

$4.27 LKR 1,416

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.34 LKR 5,086

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.79 LKR 4,903

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.11 LKR 2,358

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,086

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

$37.28 LKR 12.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$444 LKR 147.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.15 LKR 9,002

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.13 LKR 6,344

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.7 LKR 23.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.24 LKR 12.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$379 LKR 125.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 LKR 59.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$937 LKR 310.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 LKR 119.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,724 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,189 LKR 394.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$247 LKR 82.1K

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Moratuwa: June 1, 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 885% 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 $109 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 248% higher in Colombo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $717 per month in Colombo versus $72.9 in Moratuwa – a 885% 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 $72.9 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 885% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.