Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Wattala Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Wattala

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $718 in Colombo versus $545 in Wattala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,153 in Colombo versus $892 in Wattala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,588 in Colombo versus $1,239 in Wattala.

Living in Colombo is roughly 32% more expensive than in Wattala, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 46% lower, Wattala 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.07 LKR 1,366

$3.97 LKR 1,334

2.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.28 LKR 8,494

$25.28 LKR 8,496

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.60 LKR 2,891

$8.23 LKR 2,766

4.50%

Cappuccino

$2.71 LKR 909

$2.75 LKR 923

-1.45%

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

$0.69 LKR 232

$0.70 LKR 235

-1.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 136

$0.40 LKR 135

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 LKR 764

$2.35 LKR 790

-3.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 LKR 1,099

$3.26 LKR 1,095

0.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 LKR 571

$1.69 LKR 569

0.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 LKR 185

$0.53 LKR 177

3.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 295

$0.80 LKR 269

10.00%

Eggs

$2.14 LKR 721

$2.12 LKR 711

0.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.88 LKR 4,663

$14.33 LKR 4,815

-3.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 LKR 1,606

$4.55 LKR 1,528

5.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.09 LKR 2,717

$8.08 LKR 2,714

0.12%

Apples (1kg)

$7.65 LKR 2,571

$7.42 LKR 2,495

3.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 359

$1.10 LKR 370

-2.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.84 LKR 1,964

$5.74 LKR 1,929

1.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 421

$1.26 LKR 425

-0.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 LKR 384

$1.12 LKR 376

1.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 LKR 458

$1.41 LKR 473

-3.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 403

$1.14 LKR 383

5.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 190

$0.56 LKR 187

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.99 LKR 3,358

$10.17 LKR 3,418

-1.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.70 LKR 4,267

$12.68 LKR 4,261

0.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 LKR 702

$2.00 LKR 671

4.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 LKR 974

$2.96 LKR 996

-2.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 LKR 54.7

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.93 LKR 1,657

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 129

$0.41 LKR 139

-7.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 119

$0.36 LKR 119

-2.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 LKR 207

$0.62 LKR 208

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 LKR 401

$1.21 LKR 408

-1.65%

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

$27.2K LKR 9.1M

-0.07%

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

$34.3K LKR 11.5M

$34.2K LKR 11.5M

0.26%

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

$59.6 LKR 20.0K

$61.3 LKR 20.6K

-2.73%

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

$4.30 LKR 1,444

$4.27 LKR 1,435

0.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.37 LKR 5,166

$15.35 LKR 5,157

0.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.83 LKR 4,984

$13.17 LKR 4,425

12.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.39 LKR 2,485

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,104

$3.38 LKR 1,135

-2.96%

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

$36.45 LKR 12.2K

$36.74 LKR 12.3K

-0.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$442 LKR 148.5K

$447 LKR 150.3K

-1.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.73 LKR 9,320

$27.03 LKR 9,083

2.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.12 LKR 6,426

$19.11 LKR 6,421

0.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 LKR 23.2K

$69.1 LKR 23.2K

0.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.30 LKR 13.2K

$38.99 LKR 13.1K

0.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 123.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 LKR 58.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$971 LKR 326.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 LKR 124.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,586 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,156 LKR 388.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$251 LKR 84.2K

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 11, 2026

Last update for Wattala: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Colombo vs $25.00 in Wattala. Groceries flip the comparison at $258 vs $256, with Wattala 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 Wattala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Wattala wins on cost – living expenses run 32% lower than in Colombo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Wattala the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,076 in Colombo and $817 in Wattala 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 $36.45 in Colombo versus $36.74 in Wattala. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Wattala – 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 Wattala 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 Wattala delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $545 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Wattala hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Colombo and Wattala 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 Wattala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.