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: $536 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia versus $718 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $861 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia versus $1,153 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,186 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia versus $1,588 in Colombo.

Living in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia costs roughly 25% less than in Colombo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia 60% lower, Colombo 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.96 LKR 1,331

$4.07 LKR 1,366

-2.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.34 LKR 8,514

$25.28 LKR 8,492

0.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 LKR 2,831

$8.60 LKR 2,891

-1.98%

Cappuccino

$2.75 LKR 925

$2.71 LKR 909

1.48%

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

$0.73 LKR 247

$0.69 LKR 232

5.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 LKR 116

$0.40 LKR 136

-15.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 LKR 763

$2.27 LKR 764

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 LKR 1,103

$3.27 LKR 1,099

0.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 LKR 568

$1.70 LKR 571

-0.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 189

$0.55 LKR 185

1.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 269

$0.88 LKR 295

-9.09%

Eggs

$2.23 LKR 751

$2.14 LKR 721

4.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.36 LKR 4,824

$13.88 LKR 4,662

3.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 LKR 1,539

$4.78 LKR 1,606

-4.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.94 LKR 2,668

$8.09 LKR 2,717

-1.85%

Apples (1kg)

$7.31 LKR 2,458

$7.65 LKR 2,570

-4.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 358

$1.07 LKR 359

Oranges (1kg)

$5.92 LKR 1,988

$5.84 LKR 1,963

1.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 LKR 408

$1.25 LKR 421

-2.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 389

$1.14 LKR 384

1.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 LKR 453

$1.36 LKR 458

-0.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 403

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 LKR 204

$0.56 LKR 190

8.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.03 LKR 3,371

$9.99 LKR 3,358

0.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.57 LKR 4,222

$12.70 LKR 4,266

-1.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 LKR 703

$2.09 LKR 702

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 LKR 966

$2.90 LKR 974

-1.03%

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)

$0.42 LKR 140

$0.38 LKR 129

10.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 119

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 203

$0.62 LKR 207

-1.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 402

$1.19 LKR 401

0.84%

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

$26.7K LKR 9.0M

$27.2K LKR 9.1M

-1.83%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.8M

$34.3K LKR 11.5M

2.62%

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

$60.4 LKR 20.3K

$59.6 LKR 20.0K

1.34%

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

$4.25 LKR 1,429

$4.30 LKR 1,444

-1.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.26 LKR 5,128

$15.37 LKR 5,165

-0.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.83 LKR 4,984

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.39 LKR 2,484

Cinema Ticket

$3.31 LKR 1,113

$3.28 LKR 1,103

0.91%

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

$36.35 LKR 12.2K

$36.45 LKR 12.2K

-0.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$449 LKR 150.9K

$442 LKR 148.5K

1.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.77 LKR 9,331

$27.73 LKR 9,318

0.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.33 LKR 6,494

$19.12 LKR 6,425

1.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 LKR 23.3K

$69.2 LKR 23.2K

0.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.17 LKR 13.2K

$39.30 LKR 13.2K

-0.33%

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 326.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 LKR 123.9K

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)

$204 LKR 68.6K

$251 LKR 84.2K

-18.49%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Colombo: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Colombo pays 23% 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 Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs $25.00 in Colombo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $257 vs $258 per month, with Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia 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 34% 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, salaries run 23% lower in Colombo. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $36.35 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia versus $36.45 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 $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 $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 $536 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 34% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.