Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Nuwara Eliya Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Nuwara Eliya

🙂 Solo nomad: Colombo is 7.4% cheaper than Nuwara Eliya without rent, and 37.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Colombo is 4.1% more expensive than Nuwara Eliya without rent, and 30.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 LKR 1,233

$4.00 LKR 1,238

-0.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.16 LKR 7,788

$24.88 LKR 7,700

1.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.58 LKR 2,657

$8.39 LKR 2,598

2.26%

Cappuccino

$2.77 LKR 856

$2.68 LKR 829

3.36%

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

$0.72 LKR 223

$0.73 LKR 225

-1.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 117

$0.40 LKR 124

-5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 LKR 743

$2.29 LKR 710

4.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 LKR 1,054

$3.30 LKR 1,022

3.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 LKR 544

$1.71 LKR 528

2.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 172

$0.52 LKR 161

7.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 268

$0.87 LKR 271

Eggs

$2.22 LKR 688

$2.19 LKR 677

1.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.35 LKR 4,443

$13.88 LKR 4,297

3.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.62 LKR 1,431

$4.58 LKR 1,416

0.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 LKR 2,439

$8.13 LKR 2,516

-3.08%

Apples (1kg)

$7.50 LKR 2,322

$7.60 LKR 2,353

-1.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 345

$1.08 LKR 333

3.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.75 LKR 1,779

$5.96 LKR 1,846

-3.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 384

$1.26 LKR 389

-1.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 360

$1.11 LKR 342

4.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 LKR 442

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 LKR 356

$1.19 LKR 368

-3.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 LKR 188

$0.56 LKR 173

8.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.97 LKR 3,085

$10.07 LKR 3,117

-0.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.61 LKR 4,211

$13.49 LKR 4,176

0.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 LKR 623

$1.99 LKR 617

1.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 LKR 913

$2.92 LKR 905

1.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 LKR 58.5

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.98 LKR 1,541

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 118

$0.39 LKR 120

-2.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 101

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 187

$0.60 LKR 186

1.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 LKR 387

$1.26 LKR 391

-0.79%

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

$26.6K LKR 8.2M

-0.08%

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

$34.5K LKR 10.7M

$35.2K LKR 10.9M

-1.82%

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

$61.0 LKR 18.9K

$60.6 LKR 18.8K

0.68%

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

$4.32 LKR 1,336

$4.29 LKR 1,329

0.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.23 LKR 4,715

$15.05 LKR 4,659

1.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.40 LKR 4,458

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.40 LKR 2,291

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,014

$3.27 LKR 1,013

0.31%

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

$36.88 LKR 11.4K

$37.31 LKR 11.5K

-1.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$446 LKR 138.2K

$449 LKR 138.9K

-0.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.58 LKR 8,536

$27.44 LKR 8,493

0.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.46 LKR 6,024

$19.38 LKR 5,997

0.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.9 LKR 21.6K

$68.9 LKR 21.3K

1.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.01 LKR 11.8K

$38.22 LKR 11.8K

-0.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$370 LKR 114.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 LKR 55.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$966 LKR 298.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 LKR 111.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,841 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,254 LKR 388.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$234 LKR 72.5K

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: January 12, 2026

Last update for Nuwara Eliya: January 12, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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