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: $727 in Colombo versus $519 in Ragama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,162 in Colombo versus $861 in Ragama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,596 in Colombo versus $1,203 in Ragama.

Living in Colombo is roughly 40% more expensive than in Ragama, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.93 LKR 1,316

$4.07 LKR 1,363

-3.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 LKR 8,337

$24.91 LKR 8,346

-0.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.46 LKR 2,834

$8.51 LKR 2,850

-0.59%

Cappuccino

$2.74 LKR 919

$2.63 LKR 880

4.18%

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

$0.75 LKR 250

$0.73 LKR 245

2.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 135

$0.38 LKR 126

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 776

$2.32 LKR 777

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 LKR 1,097

$3.32 LKR 1,112

-1.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LKR 595

$1.58 LKR 528

12.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 188

$0.56 LKR 189

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 293

$0.73 LKR 243

19.18%

Eggs

$2.18 LKR 731

$2.11 LKR 706

3.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.99 LKR 4,687

$14.22 LKR 4,765

-1.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 LKR 1,579

$4.54 LKR 1,523

3.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.21 LKR 2,751

$8.20 LKR 2,747

0.12%

Apples (1kg)

$7.43 LKR 2,491

$7.41 LKR 2,482

0.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 355

$1.12 LKR 376

-5.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.73 LKR 1,920

$5.81 LKR 1,948

-1.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 423

$1.24 LKR 416

1.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 372

$1.16 LKR 388

-4.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 475

$1.24 LKR 416

14.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 LKR 388

$1.15 LKR 386

0.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 187

$0.55 LKR 186

1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.07 LKR 3,376

$10.07 LKR 3,373

Wine (Bottle)

$12.68 LKR 4,248

$12.44 LKR 4,167

1.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 LKR 695

$2.10 LKR 705

-0.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 995

$2.98 LKR 999

-0.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 LKR 55.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.07 LKR 1,700

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 140

$0.38 LKR 129

10.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 LKR 109

$0.35 LKR 118

-8.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 194

$0.57 LKR 191

1.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 404

$1.26 LKR 423

-3.97%

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

$26.4K LKR 8.8M

$26.3K LKR 8.8M

0.45%

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

$35.4K LKR 11.9M

$34.2K LKR 11.4M

3.59%

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

$59.7 LKR 20.0K

$59.4 LKR 19.9K

0.50%

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

$4.30 LKR 1,439

$4.29 LKR 1,437

0.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.04 LKR 5,038

$14.96 LKR 5,013

0.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.69 LKR 4,921

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.27 LKR 2,437

Cinema Ticket

$3.45 LKR 1,155

$3.36 LKR 1,127

2.68%

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

$36.16 LKR 12.1K

$37.47 LKR 12.6K

-3.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$448 LKR 150.0K

$445 LKR 149.1K

0.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.11 LKR 9,084

$27.07 LKR 9,070

0.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.30 LKR 6,468

$19.30 LKR 6,467

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 LKR 23.7K

$69.5 LKR 23.3K

1.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.20 LKR 13.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 123.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 LKR 60.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$940 LKR 315.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 LKR 123.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,615 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,180 LKR 395.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$244 LKR 81.8K

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 Ragama: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Colombo vs $25.00 in Ragama. Groceries flip the comparison at $258 vs $255, 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 40% 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 $1,091 in Colombo and $779 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 $36.16 in Colombo versus $37.47 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 $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 $1,200 a month, though Ragama 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 Ragama delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $519 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 40% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.