Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $718 in Colombo versus $754 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,153 in Colombo versus $1,171 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,588 in Colombo versus $1,588 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.

Living in Colombo costs roughly 5% less than in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 46% lower, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.07 LKR 1,366

$4.00 LKR 1,345

1.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.28 LKR 8,494

$25.03 LKR 8,411

1.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.60 LKR 2,891

$8.14 LKR 2,737

5.65%

Cappuccino

$2.71 LKR 909

$2.71 LKR 910

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

$0.69 LKR 232

$0.74 LKR 250

-6.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 136

$0.38 LKR 127

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 LKR 764

$2.41 LKR 809

-5.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 LKR 1,099

$3.39 LKR 1,138

-3.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 LKR 571

$1.49 LKR 499

14.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 LKR 185

$0.53 LKR 177

3.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 295

$0.86 LKR 289

2.33%

Eggs

$2.14 LKR 721

$2.11 LKR 709

1.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.88 LKR 4,663

$10.41 LKR 3,497

33.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 LKR 1,606

$4.58 LKR 1,540

4.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.09 LKR 2,717

$5.87 LKR 1,972

37.82%

Apples (1kg)

$7.65 LKR 2,571

$6.42 LKR 2,156

19.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 359

$1.11 LKR 373

-3.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.84 LKR 1,964

$5.80 LKR 1,950

0.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 421

$1.19 LKR 401

5.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 LKR 384

$0.95 LKR 319

20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 LKR 458

$0.91 LKR 304

49.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 403

$1.19 LKR 400

0.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 190

$0.53 LKR 178

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.99 LKR 3,358

$8.59 LKR 2,886

16.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.70 LKR 4,267

$12.53 LKR 4,212

1.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 LKR 702

$1.52 LKR 512

37.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 LKR 974

$1.79 LKR 601

62.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 LKR 54.7

$0.34 LKR 115

-52.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.93 LKR 1,657

$10.23 LKR 3,439

-51.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 129

$0.32 LKR 106

18.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 119

$0.32 LKR 109

9.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 LKR 207

$0.47 LKR 157

31.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 LKR 401

$1.21 LKR 406

-1.65%

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

$27.2K LKR 9.1M

$26.7K LKR 9.0M

1.88%

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

$34.3K LKR 11.5M

$34.5K LKR 11.6M

-0.80%

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

$59.6 LKR 20.0K

$30.12 LKR 10.1K

97.88%

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

$4.30 LKR 1,444

$4.42 LKR 1,486

-2.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.37 LKR 5,166

$14.96 LKR 5,028

2.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.83 LKR 4,984

$20.63 LKR 6,933

-28.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.39 LKR 2,485

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,104

$3.33 LKR 1,120

-1.50%

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

$36.45 LKR 12.2K

$37.30 LKR 12.5K

-2.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$442 LKR 148.5K

$436 LKR 146.5K

1.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.73 LKR 9,320

$27.06 LKR 9,093

2.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.12 LKR 6,426

$19.44 LKR 6,533

-1.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 LKR 23.2K

$68.9 LKR 23.2K

0.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.30 LKR 13.2K

$38.41 LKR 12.9K

2.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 123.6K

$341 LKR 114.6K

7.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 LKR 58.0K

$254 LKR 85.4K

-32.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$971 LKR 326.2K

$501 LKR 168.3K

93.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 LKR 124.0K

$424 LKR 142.5K

-13.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,586 LKR 1.2M

$671 LKR 225.5K

434.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,156 LKR 388.5K

$512 LKR 172.1K

125.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$251 LKR 84.2K

$303 LKR 101.8K

-17.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

9.67%

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

Last update for Colombo: July 11, 2026

Last update for Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $368 in Colombo and $341 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte pays 21% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $25.00 in Colombo vs $25.00 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Groceries flip the comparison at $258 vs $224, with Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 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 Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Colombo wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Colombo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 21% lower in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $368 in Colombo versus $341 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte pay roughly 15% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

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

Either city works on $800 a month, though Colombo 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 Colombo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $718 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Colombo hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Colombo and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 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 Colombo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.