Cost of Living Comparison Between Irbid and Colombo Cost 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: Irbid 46% lower, Colombo 45% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Irbid
Colombo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.25 JOD 3.01
$4.08 LKR 1,298
4.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.67 JOD 30.25
$24.75 LKR 7,869
72.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.96 JOD 4.93
$8.12 LKR 2,583
-14.29%
Cappuccino
$1.37 JOD 0.97
$2.74 LKR 871
-50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 JOD 0.36
$0.68 LKR 216
-26.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 JOD 0.26
$0.40 LKR 128
-7.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.02 JOD 3.56
$2.28 LKR 724
120.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.88 JOD 4.88
$3.28 LKR 1,044
109.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Irbid
Colombo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 JOD 0.83
$1.75 LKR 557
-33.14%
White Bread (500g)
$0.42 JOD 0.30
$0.56 LKR 179
-25.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.60 JOD 1.14
$0.82 LKR 260
95.12%
Eggs
$1.83 JOD 1.30
$2.12 LKR 675
-13.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.69 JOD 4.74
$14.20 LKR 4,515
-52.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.60 JOD 3.97
$4.69 LKR 1,491
19.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.67 JOD 8.28
$7.89 LKR 2,507
47.91%
Apples (1kg)
$1.40 JOD 0.99
$7.39 LKR 2,348
-81.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 JOD 1.11
$1.06 LKR 338
48.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 JOD 0.74
$5.68 LKR 1,806
-81.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.58 JOD 0.41
$1.22 LKR 388
-52.46%
Potato (1kg)
$0.89 JOD 0.63
$1.16 LKR 368
-23.28%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 JOD 0.52
$1.40 LKR 446
-47.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 JOD 0.46
$1.18 LKR 376
-44.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 JOD 0.42
$0.57 LKR 181
3.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51 JOD 2.49
$9.90 LKR 3,149
-64.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.09 JOD 5.03
$12.46 LKR 3,961
-43.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.92 JOD 2.78
$2.04 LKR 647
92.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.32 JOD 3.77
$2.83 LKR 901
87.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Irbid
Colombo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.72 JOD 0.51
$0.18 LKR 58.5
300.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$5.09 LKR 1,617
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 JOD 0.34
$0.39 LKR 123
23.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 JOD 0.99
$0.35 LKR 112
297.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.90 JOD 4.90
$0.62 LKR 196
1012.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 JOD 1.04
$1.19 LKR 380
22.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1K JOD 17.8K
$27.3K LKR 8.7M
-8.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6K JOD 22.4K
$34.2K LKR 10.9M
-7.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Irbid
Colombo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.0 JOD 68.8
$60.9 LKR 19.4K
59.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.77 JOD 11.18
$4.38 LKR 1,394
260.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.05 JOD 22.02
$15.01 LKR 4,773
106.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Irbid
Colombo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.83 JOD 24.70
$14.68 LKR 4,667
137.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.06 JOD 13.52
$7.46 LKR 2,371
155.50%
Cinema Ticket
$9.68 JOD 6.87
$3.44 LKR 1,092
181.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Irbid
Colombo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.2 JOD 66.8
$37.27 LKR 11.8K
152.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,043 JOD 2,866
$433 LKR 137.6K
833.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Irbid
Colombo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.04 JOD 31.94
$28.07 LKR 8,923
60.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.90 JOD 14.82
$19.31 LKR 6,138
8.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.0 JOD 48.19
$70.5 LKR 22.4K
-3.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.1 JOD 35.51
$38.98 LKR 12.4K
28.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Irbid
Colombo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$211 JOD 149
$368 LKR 116.8K
-42.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$145 JOD 103
$179 LKR 56.8K
-18.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$363 JOD 257
$970 LKR 308.3K
-62.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$281 JOD 199
$364 LKR 115.6K
-22.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$510 JOD 361
$3,591 LKR 1.1M
-85.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$492 JOD 349
$1,225 LKR 389.4K
-59.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Irbid
Colombo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$557 JOD 395
$241 LKR 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.

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