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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $727 in Colombo versus $518 in Polonnaruwa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,162 in Colombo versus $855 in Polonnaruwa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,596 in Colombo versus $1,192 in Polonnaruwa.

Living in Colombo is roughly 41% more expensive than in Polonnaruwa, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 45% lower, Polonnaruwa 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.93 LKR 1,317

$3.99 LKR 1,338

-1.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 LKR 8,343

$25.15 LKR 8,434

-1.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.46 LKR 2,836

$8.33 LKR 2,792

1.56%

Cappuccino

$2.74 LKR 919

$2.67 LKR 895

2.62%

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

$0.75 LKR 250

$0.68 LKR 227

10.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 136

$0.40 LKR 135

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 776

$2.29 LKR 768

1.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 LKR 1,098

$3.37 LKR 1,130

-2.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LKR 596

$1.72 LKR 576

3.49%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 188

$0.53 LKR 177

5.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 293

$0.82 LKR 275

6.10%

Eggs

$2.18 LKR 732

$2.15 LKR 720

1.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.99 LKR 4,691

$14.34 LKR 4,807

-2.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 LKR 1,581

$4.65 LKR 1,558

1.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.21 LKR 2,753

$7.87 LKR 2,638

4.32%

Apples (1kg)

$7.43 LKR 2,493

$7.44 LKR 2,495

-0.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 355

$1.07 LKR 360

-0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.73 LKR 1,921

$5.72 LKR 1,916

0.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 423

$1.21 LKR 407

4.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 373

$1.16 LKR 390

-4.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 475

$1.42 LKR 477

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 LKR 388

$1.20 LKR 401

-3.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 187

$0.57 LKR 190

-1.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.07 LKR 3,378

$9.98 LKR 3,345

0.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.68 LKR 4,251

$12.40 LKR 4,158

2.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 LKR 696

$2.02 LKR 677

2.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 996

$2.96 LKR 991

0.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 LKR 55.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.07 LKR 1,701

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 140

$0.39 LKR 129

7.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 LKR 109

$0.33 LKR 109

-3.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 194

$0.57 LKR 191

1.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 404

$1.19 LKR 400

1.68%

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

$26.4K LKR 8.8M

$26.5K LKR 8.9M

-0.52%

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

$35.4K LKR 11.9M

0.01%

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

$59.7 LKR 20.0K

$60.6 LKR 20.3K

-1.50%

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

$4.30 LKR 1,440

$4.20 LKR 1,409

2.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.04 LKR 5,042

$15.37 LKR 5,155

-2.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.69 LKR 4,925

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.27 LKR 2,439

Cinema Ticket

$3.45 LKR 1,156

$3.37 LKR 1,131

2.37%

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

$36.16 LKR 12.1K

$37.12 LKR 12.4K

-2.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$448 LKR 150.1K

$436 LKR 146.0K

2.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.11 LKR 9,091

$27.64 LKR 9,269

-1.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.30 LKR 6,473

$19.24 LKR 6,451

0.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 LKR 23.7K

$69.2 LKR 23.2K

2.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.20 LKR 13.1K

$38.58 LKR 12.9K

1.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 123.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 LKR 60.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$940 LKR 315.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 LKR 123.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,615 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,180 LKR 395.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$244 LKR 81.9K

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 28, 2026

Last update for Polonnaruwa: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Colombo vs $25.00 in Polonnaruwa. Groceries flip the comparison at $258 vs $255, with Polonnaruwa cheaper for home cooking.

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 Polonnaruwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Polonnaruwa wins on cost – living expenses run 41% lower than in Colombo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Polonnaruwa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,091 in Colombo and $776 in Polonnaruwa 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.

Childcare runs $36.16 in Colombo versus $37.12 in Polonnaruwa. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Polonnaruwa – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $25.00 in Colombo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Polonnaruwa 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 Polonnaruwa delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $518 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Polonnaruwa hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Colombo and Polonnaruwa 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 Polonnaruwa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.