Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hatton and Colombo

For one person, living is cheaper in Hatton: $506 a month against $803 in Colombo, rent and utilities included – about $3,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Hatton
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
$506
/mo nomad
Colombo
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
$803
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hatton and in Colombo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hatton and in Colombo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $506 in Hatton versus $803 in Colombo.

  • Hatton $506
  • Colombo $803

Estimated couple costs with rent: $821 in Hatton versus $1,208 in Colombo.

  • Hatton $821
  • Colombo $1,208

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,137 in Hatton versus $1,614 in Colombo.

  • Hatton $1,137
  • Colombo $1,614

Living in Hatton costs roughly 37% less than in Colombo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hatton 63% lower, Colombo 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hatton
Colombo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.79 LKR 1,256
$3.77 LKR 1,250
0.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.21 LKR 8,350
$25.25 LKR 8,362
-0.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.42 LKR 2,457
$7.61 LKR 2,519
-2.50%
Cappuccino
$2.55 LKR 845
$2.58 LKR 856
-1.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 LKR 243
$0.68 LKR 225
7.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 LKR 82.0
$0.25 LKR 82.6
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.17 LKR 718
$2.26 LKR 748
-3.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 LKR 1,018
$3.00 LKR 995
2.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hatton
Colombo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 LKR 534
$1.63 LKR 541
-1.23%
White Bread (500g)
$0.57 LKR 189
$0.57 LKR 187
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.75 LKR 249
$0.79 LKR 263
-5.06%
Eggs
$1.65 LKR 548
$1.70 LKR 563
-2.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.58 LKR 4,498
$13.65 LKR 4,522
-0.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.89 LKR 1,619
$4.84 LKR 1,604
1.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.56 LKR 2,503
$7.62 LKR 2,525
-0.79%
Apples (1kg)
$6.68 LKR 2,213
$6.51 LKR 2,156
2.61%
Banana (1kg)
$0.87 LKR 287
$0.85 LKR 283
2.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.28 LKR 1,419
$4.49 LKR 1,487
-4.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.27 LKR 420
$1.34 LKR 443
-5.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.03 LKR 342
$0.99 LKR 329
4.04%
Onion (1kg)
$0.84 LKR 278
$0.82 LKR 271
2.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 LKR 315
$0.92 LKR 305
3.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 LKR 152
$0.45 LKR 150
2.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.07 LKR 3,336
$10.17 LKR 3,370
-0.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.67 LKR 4,196
$12.69 LKR 4,204
-0.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 LKR 620
$1.87 LKR 621
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 LKR 1,011
$2.94 LKR 973
3.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Hatton
Colombo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.17 LKR 57.9
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$7.01 LKR 2,322
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.37 LKR 124
$0.38 LKR 124
-2.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 LKR 125
$0.37 LKR 124
2.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.95 LKR 314
$0.93 LKR 308
2.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 LKR 437
$1.37 LKR 454
-3.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.3K LKR 14.3M
$43.4K LKR 14.4M
-0.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.9K LKR 13.5M
$41.3K LKR 13.7M
-1.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hatton
Colombo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$58.5 LKR 19.4K
$59.8 LKR 19.8K
-2.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.38 LKR 1,449
$4.36 LKR 1,444
0.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.16 LKR 7,007
$20.96 LKR 6,942
0.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hatton
Colombo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$14.22 LKR 4,710
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$5.65 LKR 1,870
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.61 LKR 1,527
$4.60 LKR 1,525
0.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hatton
Colombo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$37.15 LKR 12.3K
$37.19 LKR 12.3K
-0.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,227 LKR 406.4K
$1,224 LKR 405.3K
0.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hatton
Colombo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.26 LKR 6,049
$18.18 LKR 6,020
0.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.69 LKR 5,528
$16.85 LKR 5,580
-0.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.1 LKR 25.9K
$77.5 LKR 25.7K
0.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.00 LKR 13.9K
$41.83 LKR 13.9K
0.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hatton
Colombo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$567 LKR 187.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$274 LKR 90.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,506 LKR 498.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$424 LKR 140.4K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,742 LKR 1.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,160 LKR 384.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hatton
Colombo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$253 LKR 83.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.69
12.69
-

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

Last update for Hatton: October 17, 2026

Last update for Colombo: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Hatton
$236
Colombo
$237 0.2% $0.4
Eating Out
Hatton
$104
Colombo
$105 0.9% $0.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hatton
$84
Colombo
$85 1.3% $1.1
Clothing & Footwear
Hatton
$70
Colombo
$69 0.5% $0.3
Sport & Entertainment
Hatton
$9.2 *
Colombo
$23 154% $14
Getting Around
Hatton
$2.3 *
Colombo
$10 341% $7.7
Accommodation & Living
Hatton
- *
Colombo
$274

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Hatton vs $25.00 in Colombo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $237 per month, with Hatton cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇱🇰 Hatton
🇱🇰 Colombo
🕒 Local time
13:16 1:16 PM
13:16 1:16 PM
Same time as Hatton
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
16,200
753,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to LKR – Sri Lankan Rupee Converter

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 331 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.02 USD). 1 EUR = 372 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.69 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hatton Colombo 82 km
From you
  • Hatton
  • Colombo

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Hatton vs Colombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hatton or Colombo?
Hatton wins on cost – living expenses run 59% lower than in Colombo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hatton the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Hatton and in Colombo?
You'd need roughly $759 in Hatton and $1,205 in Colombo 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.
How do childcare costs compare in Hatton and in Colombo?
Childcare runs $37.15 in Hatton versus $37.19 in Colombo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Hatton and in Colombo?
Dining out is cheaper in Hatton – 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.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Hatton or in Colombo?
At $506 in Hatton versus $803 in Colombo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Hatton but tight or insufficient in Colombo. The gap between the two cities makes Hatton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hatton or Colombo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Hatton delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $506 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Hatton hard to pass up.
How safe is Hatton compared to Colombo?
Safety-wise, Hatton 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Hatton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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