Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Tabriz Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Tabriz

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $717 in Colombo versus $557 in Tabriz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,166 in Colombo versus $917 in Tabriz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,615 in Colombo versus $1,277 in Tabriz.

Living in Colombo is roughly 29% more expensive than Tabriz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 46% lower, Tabriz 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.13 LKR 1,376

$4.81 $4.81

-14.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.16 LKR 8,392

$20.22 $20.22

24.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.20 LKR 2,735

$2.97 $2.97

176.09%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.79 $0.79

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 $1.28

Cappuccino

$2.66 LKR 887

$1.16 $1.16

129.31%

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

$0.68 LKR 226

$1.02 $1.02

-33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 136

$0.99 $0.99

-58.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 LKR 797

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 LKR 1,143

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 LKR 577

$0.59 $0.59

193.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 176

$0.52 $0.52

1.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 275

$1.92 $1.92

-56.77%

Eggs

$2.23 LKR 743

$1.26 $1.26

76.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.02 LKR 4,675

$3.38 $3.38

314.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.65 LKR 1,552

$2.83 $2.83

64.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.01 LKR 2,673

$9.61 $9.61

-16.65%

Apples (1kg)

$7.37 LKR 2,458

$0.95 $0.95

675.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 373

$1.43 $1.43

-21.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 LKR 1,945

$1.23 $1.23

373.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 416

$0.57 $0.57

119.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 LKR 381

$0.51 $0.51

123.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 473

$0.44 $0.44

222.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 LKR 381

$0.62 $0.62

83.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 LKR 198

$0.25 $0.25

136.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.62 $0.62

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 $0.54

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 $1.41

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.01 LKR 3,340

$2.21 $2.21

352.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.73 LKR 4,245

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 LKR 703

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 991

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 LKR 48.29

$0.49 $0.49

-71.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.09 LKR 1,696

$20.13 $20.13

-74.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 128

$0.29 $0.29

31.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 110

$0.19 $0.19

73.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 201

$3.97 $3.97

-84.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 419

$0.70 $0.70

80.00%

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

$26.8K LKR 8.9M

$71.9K $71.9K

-62.78%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

$56.2K $56.2K

-37.45%

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

$60.5 LKR 20.2K

$14.31 $14.31

322.78%

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

$4.27 LKR 1,424

$2.13 $2.13

100.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.34 LKR 5,116

$5.68 $5.68

170.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.79 LKR 4,932

$14.70 $14.70

0.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.11 LKR 2,372

$24.96 $24.96

-71.51%

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,092

$1.72 $1.72

90.70%

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

$37.28 LKR 12.4K

$66.5 $66.5

-43.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$444 LKR 148.0K

$681 $681

-34.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.15 LKR 9,054

$16.59 $16.59

63.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.13 LKR 6,381

$12.80 $12.80

49.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.7 LKR 23.6K

$174 $174

-59.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.24 LKR 12.8K

$49.42 $49.42

-22.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$379 LKR 126.5K

$189 $189

101.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 LKR 59.4K

$193 $193

-7.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$937 LKR 312.5K

$874 $874

7.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 LKR 120.3K

$403 $403

-10.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,724 LKR 1.2M

$862 $862

332.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,189 LKR 396.4K

$855 $855

38.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$247 LKR 82.5K

$230 $230

7.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

-25.23%

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

Last update for Colombo: May 30, 2026

Last update for Tabriz: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $379 in Colombo and $189 in Tabriz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Colombo pays 7% 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 $20.00 in Tabriz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $257 vs $106 per month, with Tabriz cheaper across the board.

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 Tabriz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tabriz wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Colombo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tabriz the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Colombo pays 7% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $379 in Colombo versus $189 in Tabriz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 143% higher in Colombo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Tabriz – a meal for two runs $20.00 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 Tabriz 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 Tabriz delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $557 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tabriz hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Colombo and Tabriz 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 Tabriz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.