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: $725 in Colombo versus $538 in Polonnaruwa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,160 in Colombo versus $857 in Polonnaruwa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,595 in Colombo versus $1,176 in Polonnaruwa.

Living in Colombo is roughly 35% more expensive than Polonnaruwa, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 46% lower, Polonnaruwa 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 LKR 1,326

$4.00 LKR 1,333

-0.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.39 LKR 8,469

$25.54 LKR 8,518

-0.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.59 LKR 2,865

$8.60 LKR 2,870

-0.12%

Cappuccino

$2.61 LKR 872

$2.74 LKR 913

-4.74%

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

$0.73 LKR 242

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 126

$0.40 LKR 134

-5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 LKR 769

$2.29 LKR 763

0.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 LKR 1,087

$3.39 LKR 1,130

-3.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 LKR 564

$1.79 LKR 597

-5.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 186

$0.53 LKR 176

5.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 274

$0.85 LKR 285

-3.53%

Eggs

$2.21 LKR 738

$2.19 LKR 732

0.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.16 LKR 4,724

$13.94 LKR 4,650

1.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.74 LKR 1,581

$4.65 LKR 1,550

1.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.28 LKR 2,761

$8.10 LKR 2,702

2.22%

Apples (1kg)

$7.44 LKR 2,480

$7.54 LKR 2,514

-1.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 370

$1.06 LKR 354

4.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.89 LKR 1,966

$5.95 LKR 1,985

-1.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 LKR 400

$1.24 LKR 415

-3.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 387

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 LKR 452

$1.42 LKR 474

-4.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 LKR 396

$1.15 LKR 382

3.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 201

$0.57 LKR 190

5.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.17 LKR 3,392

$10.23 LKR 3,411

-0.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.86 LKR 4,290

$12.46 LKR 4,156

3.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 LKR 703

$2.08 LKR 694

1.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 LKR 997

$2.88 LKR 961

3.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 LKR 64.5

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.96 LKR 1,656

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 129

$0.38 LKR 128

2.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 117

$0.32 LKR 108

9.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 LKR 188

$0.57 LKR 190

-1.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 421

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

$26.8K LKR 9.0M

$27.1K LKR 9.0M

-0.91%

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

$34.7K LKR 11.6M

$34.2K LKR 11.4M

1.33%

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

$60.9 LKR 20.3K

$59.4 LKR 19.8K

2.61%

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

$4.29 LKR 1,433

$4.43 LKR 1,479

-3.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.85 LKR 4,954

$15.22 LKR 5,077

-2.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.58 LKR 4,862

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.44 LKR 2,482

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,093

$3.40 LKR 1,134

-3.53%

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

$36.45 LKR 12.2K

$37.28 LKR 12.4K

-2.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$440 LKR 146.8K

$442 LKR 147.3K

-0.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.09 LKR 9,369

$27.70 LKR 9,239

1.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.63 LKR 6,549

$19.51 LKR 6,508

0.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.0 LKR 23.3K

$70.2 LKR 23.4K

-0.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.80 LKR 12.9K

$38.00 LKR 12.7K

2.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 LKR 122.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 LKR 58.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$937 LKR 312.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 LKR 122.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,583 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,157 LKR 385.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$240 LKR 80.0K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Polonnaruwa: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Colombo vs $26.00 in Polonnaruwa. Groceries flip the comparison at $259 vs $258, 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 35% 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 $1,087 in Colombo and $807 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 $36.45 in Colombo versus $37.28 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 $26.00 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 $538 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 35% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.