Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Weligama Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Weligama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $771 in Colombo versus $504 in Weligama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,191 in Colombo versus $821 in Weligama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,610 in Colombo versus $1,137 in Weligama.

Living in Colombo is roughly 53% more expensive than in Weligama, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 44% lower, Weligama 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 LKR 1,480

$4.38 LKR 1,438

2.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.96 LKR 8,518

$25.87 LKR 8,489

0.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.80 LKR 2,558

$7.76 LKR 2,547

0.52%

Cappuccino

$2.47 LKR 810

$2.45 LKR 804

0.82%

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

$0.70 LKR 228

$0.74 LKR 242

-5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 LKR 81.8

$0.25 LKR 82.0

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 LKR 734

$2.28 LKR 749

-1.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 LKR 1,010

$3.04 LKR 996

1.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 LKR 535

$1.61 LKR 529

1.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 LKR 187

$0.56 LKR 184

1.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 264

$0.79 LKR 261

1.27%

Eggs

$1.65 LKR 541

$1.59 LKR 520

3.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.08 LKR 4,293

$12.98 LKR 4,260

0.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 LKR 1,627

$4.97 LKR 1,629

-0.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.27 LKR 2,384

$7.43 LKR 2,437

-2.15%

Apples (1kg)

$6.76 LKR 2,218

$6.86 LKR 2,250

-1.46%

Banana (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 272

$0.83 LKR 271

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 LKR 1,369

$4.39 LKR 1,441

-5.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 LKR 423

$1.27 LKR 417

1.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 LKR 343

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 266

$0.77 LKR 251

5.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 LKR 290

$0.95 LKR 312

-7.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 LKR 159

$0.48 LKR 158

2.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.25 LKR 3,362

$10.38 LKR 3,407

-1.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.97 LKR 4,584

$13.72 LKR 4,503

1.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 LKR 621

$1.93 LKR 632

-2.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 LKR 911

$2.80 LKR 918

-0.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 LKR 56.5

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.39 LKR 2,425

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 138

$0.41 LKR 135

2.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 117

$0.39 LKR 127

-7.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 LKR 288

$0.90 LKR 295

-2.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 LKR 435

$1.33 LKR 436

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

$30.4K LKR 10.0M

-0.13%

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

$41.7K LKR 13.7M

$42.0K LKR 13.8M

-0.61%

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

$54.9 LKR 18.0K

$55.9 LKR 18.3K

-1.83%

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

$4.13 LKR 1,354

$4.08 LKR 1,338

1.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.85 LKR 6,839

$20.61 LKR 6,762

1.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.29 LKR 4,688

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.67 LKR 1,859

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 LKR 1,419

$4.41 LKR 1,446

-1.81%

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

$37.34 LKR 12.2K

$37.65 LKR 12.4K

-0.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,223 LKR 401.2K

$1,227 LKR 402.5K

-0.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.78 LKR 6,488

$20.24 LKR 6,641

-2.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.93 LKR 5,556

$17.05 LKR 5,594

-0.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.4 LKR 26.0K

$79.8 LKR 26.2K

-0.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.25 LKR 13.9K

$41.72 LKR 13.7K

1.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$547 LKR 179.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$248 LKR 81.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 LKR 516.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 LKR 132.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,772 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,203 LKR 394.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$250 LKR 82.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

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

Last update for Colombo: August 30, 2026

Last update for Weligama: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $26.00 in Colombo vs $26.00 in Weligama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $237 vs $237 per month, with Colombo 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 Weligama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Weligama wins on cost – living expenses run 53% lower than in Colombo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Weligama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,156 in Colombo and $756 in Weligama 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 $37.34 in Colombo versus $37.65 in Weligama. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Weligama – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $26.00 in Colombo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $504 in Weligama versus $771 in Colombo, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Weligama but tight or insufficient in Colombo. The gap between the two cities makes Weligama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Weligama delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $504 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Weligama hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Colombo and Weligama 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 Weligama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.