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: $483 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia versus $771 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $784 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia versus $1,191 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,086 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia versus $1,610 in Colombo.

Living in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia costs roughly 37% less than in Colombo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia 65% lower, Colombo 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.53 LKR 503

$4.51 LKR 1,480

-66.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.46 LKR 8,025

$25.96 LKR 8,518

-5.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.76 LKR 2,547

$7.80 LKR 2,558

-0.51%

Cappuccino

$2.40 LKR 788

$2.47 LKR 810

-2.83%

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

$0.68 LKR 222

$0.70 LKR 228

-2.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 LKR 82.0

$0.25 LKR 81.8

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.26 LKR 742

$2.24 LKR 734

0.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 LKR 1,024

$3.08 LKR 1,010

1.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 LKR 529

$1.63 LKR 535

-1.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 LKR 187

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 249

$0.80 LKR 264

-5.00%

Eggs

$1.65 LKR 543

$1.65 LKR 541

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.35 LKR 4,380

$13.08 LKR 4,293

2.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.08 LKR 1,668

$4.96 LKR 1,627

2.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.39 LKR 2,423

$7.27 LKR 2,384

1.65%

Apples (1kg)

$6.91 LKR 2,268

$6.76 LKR 2,218

2.22%

Banana (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 273

$0.83 LKR 272

Oranges (1kg)

$4.43 LKR 1,453

$4.17 LKR 1,369

6.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 410

$1.29 LKR 423

-3.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 LKR 331

$1.05 LKR 343

-3.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 251

$0.81 LKR 266

-6.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 LKR 313

$0.88 LKR 290

7.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 158

$0.49 LKR 159

-2.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.43 LKR 3,422

$10.25 LKR 3,362

1.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.55 LKR 4,447

$13.97 LKR 4,584

-3.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 LKR 625

$1.89 LKR 621

1.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 LKR 917

$2.78 LKR 911

0.72%

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)

$0.41 LKR 135

$0.42 LKR 138

-2.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 LKR 123

$0.36 LKR 117

2.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 LKR 291

$0.88 LKR 288

1.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 LKR 434

$1.33 LKR 435

-0.75%

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

$30.1K LKR 9.9M

$30.4K LKR 10.0M

-0.85%

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

$42.0K LKR 13.8M

$41.7K LKR 13.7M

0.66%

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

$53.1 LKR 17.4K

$54.9 LKR 18.0K

-3.28%

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

$4.18 LKR 1,371

$4.13 LKR 1,354

1.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.62 LKR 6,765

$20.85 LKR 6,839

-1.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.29 LKR 4,688

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.67 LKR 1,859

Cinema Ticket

$4.51 LKR 1,479

$4.33 LKR 1,419

4.16%

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

$38.47 LKR 12.6K

$37.34 LKR 12.2K

3.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,218 LKR 399.6K

$1,223 LKR 401.2K

-0.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.38 LKR 6,688

$19.78 LKR 6,488

3.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.64 LKR 5,458

$16.93 LKR 5,556

-1.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 LKR 26.2K

$79.4 LKR 26.0K

0.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.65 LKR 14.0K

$42.25 LKR 13.9K

0.95%

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)

$456 LKR 149.5K

$1,575 LKR 516.8K

-71.07%

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)

$213 LKR 70.0K

$250 LKR 82.0K

-14.67%

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 Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia: September 1, 2026

Last update for Colombo: August 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: $24.00 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs $26.00 in Colombo. Groceries flip the comparison at $239 vs $237, with Colombo 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

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

Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia wins on cost – living expenses run 60% 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 17% 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 $38.47 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia versus $37.34 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 $24.00 versus $26.00 in Colombo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $483 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia versus $771 in Colombo, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia but tight or insufficient in Colombo. The gap between the two cities makes Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $483 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 60% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.