Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Ragama Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Ragama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $789 in Colombo versus $515 in Ragama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,200 in Colombo versus $835 in Ragama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,610 in Colombo versus $1,154 in Ragama.

Living in Colombo is roughly 53% more expensive than in Ragama, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 43% lower, Ragama 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.38 LKR 1,440

$4.41 LKR 1,448

-0.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.76 LKR 8,464

$26.20 LKR 8,610

-1.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.60 LKR 2,499

$7.64 LKR 2,509

-0.52%

Cappuccino

$2.45 LKR 804

$2.54 LKR 834

-3.54%

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

$0.74 LKR 243

$0.69 LKR 226

7.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 LKR 81.4

$0.27 LKR 88.7

-7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 LKR 737

$2.25 LKR 740

-0.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 LKR 979

$3.12 LKR 1,026

-4.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 LKR 520

$1.43 LKR 468

10.49%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 172

$0.51 LKR 166

1.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 267

$0.69 LKR 226

17.39%

Eggs

$1.64 LKR 539

$1.66 LKR 546

-1.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.18 LKR 4,332

$13.16 LKR 4,324

0.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.06 LKR 1,663

$4.94 LKR 1,622

2.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.14 LKR 2,347

$7.23 LKR 2,376

-1.24%

Apples (1kg)

$6.69 LKR 2,198

$6.71 LKR 2,206

-0.30%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 288

$0.89 LKR 294

-1.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 LKR 1,429

$4.32 LKR 1,420

0.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 LKR 425

$1.24 LKR 408

4.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 LKR 330

$1.04 LKR 343

-3.85%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 263

$0.80 LKR 262

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 LKR 310

$0.88 LKR 290

6.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 LKR 162

$0.46 LKR 151

6.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.36 LKR 3,403

$10.46 LKR 3,435

-0.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.67 LKR 4,492

$13.56 LKR 4,457

0.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 LKR 646

$2.00 LKR 656

-2.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 LKR 948

$2.77 LKR 909

4.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 LKR 57.2

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.29 LKR 2,397

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 127

$0.39 LKR 128

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 LKR 127

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 LKR 312

$0.92 LKR 303

3.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 LKR 439

$1.35 LKR 443

-0.74%

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

$30.0K LKR 9.9M

$30.0K LKR 9.8M

0.15%

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

$42.5K LKR 14.0M

$41.7K LKR 13.7M

2.05%

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

$55.4 LKR 18.2K

$54.4 LKR 17.9K

1.82%

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

$4.06 LKR 1,333

$4.16 LKR 1,366

-2.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.56 LKR 6,755

$20.62 LKR 6,776

-0.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.69 LKR 4,827

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.92 LKR 1,947

Cinema Ticket

$4.43 LKR 1,456

$4.49 LKR 1,477

-1.34%

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

$38.87 LKR 12.8K

$38.72 LKR 12.7K

0.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,212 LKR 398.2K

$1,242 LKR 408.2K

-2.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.17 LKR 6,626

$20.02 LKR 6,577

0.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.47 LKR 5,411

$16.51 LKR 5,424

-0.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.9 LKR 26.6K

$79.6 LKR 26.1K

1.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.13 LKR 14.2K

$41.71 LKR 13.7K

3.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$554 LKR 182.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$251 LKR 82.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 LKR 519.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$410 LKR 134.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,725 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 LKR 397.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$252 LKR 82.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

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

Last update for Colombo: September 7, 2026

Last update for Ragama: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $26.00 in Colombo vs $26.00 in Ragama. Groceries flip the comparison at $237 vs $233, with Ragama 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 Ragama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ragama wins on cost – living expenses run 53% lower than in Colombo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ragama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,184 in Colombo and $773 in Ragama 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 $38.87 in Colombo versus $38.72 in Ragama. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ragama – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $26.00 in Colombo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $515 in Ragama versus $789 in Colombo, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ragama but tight or insufficient in Colombo. The gap between the two cities makes Ragama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ragama delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $515 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ragama hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Ragama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.