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: $717 in Colombo versus $734 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,166 in Colombo versus $1,153 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,615 in Colombo versus $1,572 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.

Living in Colombo costs roughly 2% less than in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 46% lower, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.13 LKR 1,369

$4.12 LKR 1,368

0.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.16 LKR 8,344

$24.76 LKR 8,211

1.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.20 LKR 2,719

$8.48 LKR 2,811

-3.30%

Cappuccino

$2.66 LKR 882

$2.67 LKR 884

-0.37%

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

$0.68 LKR 224

$0.75 LKR 247

-9.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 135

$0.38 LKR 125

7.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 LKR 793

$2.28 LKR 757

4.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 LKR 1,136

$3.29 LKR 1,092

4.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 LKR 574

$1.50 LKR 497

15.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 175

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 274

$0.85 LKR 283

-2.35%

Eggs

$2.23 LKR 739

$2.13 LKR 705

4.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.02 LKR 4,648

$10.28 LKR 3,410

36.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.65 LKR 1,543

$4.55 LKR 1,507

2.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.01 LKR 2,657

$5.85 LKR 1,940

36.92%

Apples (1kg)

$7.37 LKR 2,444

$6.17 LKR 2,046

19.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 371

$1.11 LKR 367

0.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 LKR 1,934

$5.71 LKR 1,894

2.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 414

$1.25 LKR 415

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 LKR 379

$1.01 LKR 334

12.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 470

$0.93 LKR 309

52.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 LKR 379

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 LKR 196

$0.50 LKR 166

18.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.01 LKR 3,321

$8.46 LKR 2,805

18.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.73 LKR 4,220

$12.57 LKR 4,167

1.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 LKR 699

$1.47 LKR 486

43.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 985

$1.81 LKR 600

64.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 LKR 48.01

$0.32 LKR 105

-56.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.09 LKR 1,687

$10.23 LKR 3,392

-50.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 128

$0.34 LKR 114

11.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 109

$0.35 LKR 117

-5.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 199

$0.44 LKR 145

36.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 416

$1.27 LKR 419

-0.79%

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

$26.8K LKR 8.9M

$27.2K LKR 9.0M

-1.64%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

$34.4K LKR 11.4M

2.27%

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

$60.5 LKR 20.1K

$30.64 LKR 10.2K

97.45%

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

$4.27 LKR 1,416

$4.22 LKR 1,399

1.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.34 LKR 5,086

$14.91 LKR 4,943

2.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.79 LKR 4,903

$21.06 LKR 6,984

-29.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.11 LKR 2,358

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,086

$3.42 LKR 1,135

-4.09%

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

$37.28 LKR 12.4K

$36.74 LKR 12.2K

1.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$444 LKR 147.1K

$433 LKR 143.6K

2.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.15 LKR 9,002

$28.02 LKR 9,290

-3.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.13 LKR 6,344

$19.05 LKR 6,317

0.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.7 LKR 23.4K

$69.0 LKR 22.9K

2.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.24 LKR 12.7K

$38.31 LKR 12.7K

-0.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$379 LKR 125.7K

$335 LKR 111.0K

13.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 LKR 59.0K

$254 LKR 84.1K

-29.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$937 LKR 310.7K

$512 LKR 169.8K

82.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 LKR 119.6K

$418 LKR 138.5K

-13.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,724 LKR 1.2M

$686 LKR 227.4K

443.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,189 LKR 394.1K

$528 LKR 175.1K

125.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$247 LKR 82.1K

$303 LKR 100.3K

-18.22%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $379 in Colombo and $335 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte pays 22% 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 $257 vs $221, 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 2% 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, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte earns 22% less. 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: $379 in Colombo versus $335 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 16% 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 $717 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 2% less than in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.