Cost of Living Comparison Between Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and Colombo Cost of Living Comparison Between Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and Colombo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $527 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia versus $717 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $866 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia versus $1,166 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,205 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia versus $1,615 in Colombo.

Living in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia costs roughly 26% less than in Colombo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia 61% lower, Colombo 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.96 LKR 1,320

$4.13 LKR 1,376

-4.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.56 LKR 8,524

$25.16 LKR 8,392

1.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.23 LKR 2,746

$8.20 LKR 2,735

0.37%

Cappuccino

$2.67 LKR 891

$2.66 LKR 887

0.38%

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

$0.68 LKR 228

$0.68 LKR 226

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 LKR 115

$0.41 LKR 136

-14.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 LKR 771

$2.39 LKR 797

-3.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 LKR 1,142

$3.43 LKR 1,143

-0.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 LKR 577

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 186

$0.53 LKR 176

5.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 273

$0.83 LKR 275

-1.20%

Eggs

$2.11 LKR 704

$2.23 LKR 743

-5.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.99 LKR 4,665

$14.02 LKR 4,675

-0.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 LKR 1,594

$4.65 LKR 1,552

2.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.22 LKR 2,740

$8.01 LKR 2,673

2.62%

Apples (1kg)

$7.68 LKR 2,562

$7.37 LKR 2,458

4.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 353

$1.12 LKR 373

-5.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.65 LKR 1,883

$5.83 LKR 1,945

-3.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 418

$1.25 LKR 416

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 LKR 368

$1.14 LKR 381

-3.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 LKR 454

$1.42 LKR 473

-4.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 LKR 396

$1.14 LKR 381

4.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 188

$0.59 LKR 198

-5.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.97 LKR 3,327

$10.01 LKR 3,340

-0.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.95 LKR 4,319

$12.73 LKR 4,245

1.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 LKR 690

$2.11 LKR 703

-1.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 LKR 963

$2.97 LKR 991

-2.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 LKR 48.29

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.09 LKR 1,696

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 137

$0.38 LKR 128

7.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 109

$0.33 LKR 110

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 201

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 LKR 416

$1.26 LKR 419

-0.79%

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

$26.9K LKR 9.0M

$26.8K LKR 8.9M

0.54%

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

$35.4K LKR 11.8M

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

0.79%

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

$60.7 LKR 20.2K

$60.5 LKR 20.2K

0.35%

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

$4.24 LKR 1,413

$4.27 LKR 1,424

-0.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.98 LKR 4,997

$15.34 LKR 5,116

-2.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.79 LKR 4,932

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.11 LKR 2,372

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,094

$3.28 LKR 1,092

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

$36.26 LKR 12.1K

$37.28 LKR 12.4K

-2.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$433 LKR 144.4K

$444 LKR 148.0K

-2.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.93 LKR 9,315

$27.15 LKR 9,054

2.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.54 LKR 6,517

$19.13 LKR 6,381

2.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.0 LKR 23.0K

$70.7 LKR 23.6K

-2.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.15 LKR 12.7K

$38.24 LKR 12.8K

-0.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$379 LKR 126.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 LKR 59.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$937 LKR 312.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 LKR 120.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,724 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,189 LKR 396.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$212 LKR 70.8K

$247 LKR 82.5K

-14.27%

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 Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia: June 1, 2026

Last update for Colombo: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Colombo pays 17% 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: $26.00 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs $25.00 in Colombo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $257 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

Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs Colombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia wins on cost – living expenses run 36% lower than in Colombo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Colombo earns 17% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $36.26 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia versus $37.28 in Colombo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia – a meal for two runs $26.00 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 Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia 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 Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $527 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and Colombo 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 Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.