Cost of Living Comparison Between Irbid and ColomboCost of Living Comparison Between Irbid and Colombo
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $727 in Irbid versus $733 in Colombo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,173 in Irbid versus $1,166 in Colombo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,619 in Irbid versus $1,598 in Colombo.
🙂Living in Irbid costs roughly 1% less than in Colombo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Irbid46% lower, Colombo45% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Irbid
Colombo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.25JOD 3.01
$4.08LKR 1,298
4.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.67JOD 30.25
$24.75LKR 7,869
72.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.96JOD 4.93
$8.12LKR 2,583
-14.29%
Cappuccino
$1.37JOD 0.97
$2.74LKR 871
-50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50JOD 0.36
$0.68LKR 216
-26.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37JOD 0.26
$0.40LKR 128
-7.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.02JOD 3.56
$2.28LKR 724
120.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.88JOD 4.88
$3.28LKR 1,044
109.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Irbid
Colombo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17JOD 0.83
$1.75LKR 557
-33.14%
White Bread(500g)
$0.42JOD 0.30
$0.56LKR 179
-25.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60JOD 1.14
$0.82LKR 260
95.12%
Eggs
$1.83JOD 1.30
$2.12LKR 675
-13.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.69JOD 4.74
$14.20LKR 4,515
-52.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.60JOD 3.97
$4.69LKR 1,491
19.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.67JOD 8.28
$7.89LKR 2,507
47.91%
Apples(1kg)
$1.40JOD 0.99
$7.39LKR 2,348
-81.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57JOD 1.11
$1.06LKR 338
48.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.05JOD 0.74
$5.68LKR 1,806
-81.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.58JOD 0.41
$1.22LKR 388
-52.46%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89JOD 0.63
$1.16LKR 368
-23.28%
Onion(1kg)
$0.73JOD 0.52
$1.40LKR 446
-47.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65JOD 0.46
$1.18LKR 376
-44.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59JOD 0.42
$0.57LKR 181
3.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51JOD 2.49
$9.90LKR 3,149
-64.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.09JOD 5.03
$12.46LKR 3,961
-43.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.92JOD 2.78
$2.04LKR 647
92.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.32JOD 3.77
$2.83LKR 901
87.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Irbid
Colombo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.72JOD 0.51
$0.18LKR 58.5
300.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$5.09LKR 1,617
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48JOD 0.34
$0.39LKR 123
23.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39JOD 0.99
$0.35LKR 112
297.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.90JOD 4.90
$0.62LKR 196
1012.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46JOD 1.04
$1.19LKR 380
22.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1KJOD 17.8K
$27.3KLKR 8.7M
-8.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6KJOD 22.4K
$34.2KLKR 10.9M
-7.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Irbid
Colombo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$97.0JOD 68.8
$60.9LKR 19.4K
59.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.77JOD 11.18
$4.38LKR 1,394
260.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.05JOD 22.02
$15.01LKR 4,773
106.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Irbid
Colombo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.83JOD 24.70
$14.68LKR 4,667
137.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.06JOD 13.52
$7.46LKR 2,371
155.50%
Cinema Ticket
$9.68JOD 6.87
$3.44LKR 1,092
181.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Irbid
Colombo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.2JOD 66.8
$37.27LKR 11.8K
152.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,043JOD 2,866
$433LKR 137.6K
833.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Irbid
Colombo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.04JOD 31.94
$28.07LKR 8,923
60.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.90JOD 14.82
$19.31LKR 6,138
8.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.0JOD 48.19
$70.5LKR 22.4K
-3.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.1JOD 35.51
$38.98LKR 12.4K
28.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Irbid
Colombo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$211JOD 149
$368LKR 116.8K
-42.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$145JOD 103
$179LKR 56.8K
-18.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$363JOD 257
$970LKR 308.3K
-62.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$281JOD 199
$364LKR 115.6K
-22.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$510JOD 361
$3,591LKR 1.1M
-85.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$492JOD 349
$1,225LKR 389.4K
-59.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Irbid
Colombo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$557JOD 395
$241LKR 76.5K
131.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.27
16.45
-55.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Irbid: April 27, 2026
Last update for Colombo: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $211 in Irbid and $368 in Colombo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Irbid pays 132% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $43 in Irbid vs $25 in Colombo. Groceries flip the comparison at $195 vs $255, with Irbid 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
Irbid vs Colombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Irbid or Colombo?
Irbid wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Colombo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Irbid the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Irbid or Colombo?
Irbid pays 132% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Irbid vs Colombo?
Rent for a central apartment: $211 in Irbid versus $368 in Colombo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Irbid and Colombo?
Childcare runs $94.2 in Irbid versus $37.27 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 Irbid vs Colombo?
Dining out is cheaper in Irbid – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $25.00 in Colombo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Irbid or Colombo?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Irbid gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Irbid or Colombo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Irbid delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $727 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Irbid hard to pass up.
How safe is Irbid compared to Colombo?
Safety-wise, Irbid 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 Irbid gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.