Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Polonnaruwa Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Polonnaruwa

😐 Solo nomad: Colombo is 3% more expensive than Polonnaruwa without rent, and 35.3% more expensive with rent.
šŸ™‚ Family of 3: Colombo is 4.7% cheaper than Polonnaruwa without rent, and 37.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
šŸ½ Eating Out
Colombo
Polonnaruwa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.98 LKRĀ 1,236
$3.92 LKRĀ 1,218
1.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.32 LKRĀ 7,868
$25.43 LKRĀ 7,903
-0.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.48 LKRĀ 2,635
$8.55 LKRĀ 2,657
-0.82%
Cappuccino
$2.73 LKRĀ 847
$2.64 LKRĀ 819
3.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 LKRĀ 229
$0.74 LKRĀ 231
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 LKRĀ 115
$0.40 LKRĀ 125
-7.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 LKRĀ 748
$2.33 LKRĀ 723
3.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 LKRĀ 1,029
$3.25 LKRĀ 1,010
1.85%
šŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Colombo
Polonnaruwa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 LKRĀ 528
$1.70 LKRĀ 530
-
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 LKRĀ 175
$0.52 LKRĀ 161
7.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.83 LKRĀ 257
$0.85 LKRĀ 266
-2.35%
Eggs
$2.20 LKRĀ 683
$2.19 LKRĀ 682
0.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.25 LKRĀ 4,428
$14.22 LKRĀ 4,418
0.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.70 LKRĀ 1,462
$4.74 LKRĀ 1,472
-0.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.87 LKRĀ 2,444
$8.19 LKRĀ 2,544
-3.91%
Apples (1kg)
$7.49 LKRĀ 2,328
$7.55 LKRĀ 2,345
-0.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 LKRĀ 346
$1.11 LKRĀ 346
-
Oranges (1kg)
$5.85 LKRĀ 1,819
$5.69 LKRĀ 1,769
2.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.22 LKRĀ 378
$1.24 LKRĀ 386
-1.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.10 LKRĀ 341
$1.12 LKRĀ 347
-1.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.43 LKRĀ 445
$1.41 LKRĀ 437
1.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 LKRĀ 356
$1.14 LKRĀ 353
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 LKRĀ 188
$0.60 LKRĀ 185
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.23 LKRĀ 3,178
$9.94 LKRĀ 3,090
2.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.67 LKRĀ 3,937
$12.90 LKRĀ 4,010
-1.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 LKRĀ 649
$1.99 LKRĀ 618
5.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 LKRĀ 914
$2.83 LKRĀ 880
3.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Colombo
Polonnaruwa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 LKRĀ 59.3
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.94 LKRĀ 1,534
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.41 LKRĀ 128
$0.42 LKRĀ 129
-2.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 LKRĀ 110
$0.33 LKRĀ 101
6.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 LKRĀ 177
$0.61 LKRĀ 190
-6.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 LKRĀ 388
$1.25 LKRĀ 387
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K LKRĀ 8.3M
$26.6K LKRĀ 8.3M
0.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K LKRĀ 11.0M
$35.4K LKRĀ 11.0M
0.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Colombo
Polonnaruwa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$59.5 LKRĀ 18.5K
$60.0 LKRĀ 18.6K
-0.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.46 LKRĀ 1,386
$4.34 LKRĀ 1,349
2.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.16 LKRĀ 4,711
$14.86 LKRĀ 4,619
2.02%
šŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Colombo
Polonnaruwa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.28 LKRĀ 4,436
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.05 LKRĀ 2,191
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.38 LKRĀ 1,050
$3.40 LKRĀ 1,057
-0.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Colombo
Polonnaruwa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$36.49 LKRĀ 11.3K
$36.53 LKRĀ 11.4K
-0.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$444 LKRĀ 138.1K
$437 LKRĀ 135.8K
1.66%
šŸ‘•šŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Colombo
Polonnaruwa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.90 LKRĀ 8,670
$27.35 LKRĀ 8,499
2.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.17 LKRĀ 5,958
$19.18 LKRĀ 5,960
-0.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.8 LKRĀ 21.4K
$69.4 LKRĀ 21.6K
-0.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.47 LKRĀ 12.0K
$38.14 LKRĀ 11.9K
0.87%
šŸ  Accommodation & Living
Colombo
Polonnaruwa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$372 LKRĀ 115.6K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$177 LKRĀ 54.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$969 LKRĀ 301.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$360 LKRĀ 111.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,705 LKRĀ 1.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,248 LKRĀ 387.9K
-
-
šŸ’µ Salaries & Financials
Colombo
Polonnaruwa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$241 LKRĀ 74.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.45
16.45
-

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

Last update for Colombo: March 2, 2026

Last update for Polonnaruwa: March 2, 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

Similar cities