Cost of Living Comparison Between Kalutara and Colombo Cost of Living Comparison Between Kalutara and Colombo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $533 in Kalutara versus $717 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $869 in Kalutara versus $1,166 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,206 in Kalutara versus $1,615 in Colombo.

Living in Kalutara costs roughly 26% less than in Colombo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kalutara 60% lower, Colombo 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.90 LKR 1,293

$4.13 LKR 1,369

-5.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.66 LKR 8,178

$25.16 LKR 8,344

-1.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.30 LKR 2,753

$8.20 LKR 2,719

1.22%

Cappuccino

$2.74 LKR 910

$2.66 LKR 882

3.01%

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

$0.69 LKR 230

$0.68 LKR 224

1.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 LKR 124

$0.41 LKR 135

-9.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 LKR 757

$2.39 LKR 793

-4.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 LKR 1,091

$3.43 LKR 1,136

-4.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 LKR 593

$1.73 LKR 574

3.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 173

$0.53 LKR 175

-1.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 270

$0.83 LKR 274

-2.41%

Eggs

$2.14 LKR 709

$2.23 LKR 739

-4.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.15 LKR 4,692

$14.02 LKR 4,648

0.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.77 LKR 1,582

$4.65 LKR 1,543

2.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.85 LKR 2,603

$8.01 LKR 2,657

-2.00%

Apples (1kg)

$7.37 LKR 2,444

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 356

$1.12 LKR 371

-4.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.92 LKR 1,963

$5.83 LKR 1,934

1.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 418

$1.25 LKR 414

0.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 LKR 366

$1.14 LKR 379

-3.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 LKR 474

$1.42 LKR 470

0.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 397

$1.14 LKR 379

5.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 189

$0.59 LKR 196

-3.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.91 LKR 3,287

$10.01 LKR 3,321

-1.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.60 LKR 4,178

$12.73 LKR 4,220

-1.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 LKR 663

$2.11 LKR 699

-5.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 LKR 975

$2.97 LKR 985

-1.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 LKR 48.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.09 LKR 1,687

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 136

$0.38 LKR 128

7.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 117

$0.33 LKR 109

6.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 191

$0.60 LKR 199

-3.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 417

$1.26 LKR 416

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

$26.6K LKR 8.8M

$26.8K LKR 8.9M

-0.53%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

-0.01%

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

$59.2 LKR 19.6K

$60.5 LKR 20.1K

-2.17%

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

$4.41 LKR 1,463

$4.27 LKR 1,416

3.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.11 LKR 5,009

$15.34 LKR 5,086

-1.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.94 LKR 3,294

$14.79 LKR 4,903

-32.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.11 LKR 2,358

Cinema Ticket

$3.25 LKR 1,079

$3.28 LKR 1,086

-0.91%

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

$37.46 LKR 12.4K

$37.28 LKR 12.4K

0.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$441 LKR 146.1K

$444 LKR 147.1K

-0.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.58 LKR 9,147

$27.15 LKR 9,002

1.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.16 LKR 6,353

$19.13 LKR 6,344

0.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.0 LKR 23.2K

$70.7 LKR 23.4K

-0.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.27 LKR 13.0K

$38.24 LKR 12.7K

2.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$379 LKR 125.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 LKR 59.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$937 LKR 310.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 LKR 119.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,724 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,189 LKR 394.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$247 LKR 82.1K

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 Kalutara: June 2, 2026

Last update for Colombo: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Kalutara vs $25.00 in Colombo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $257 vs $257 per month, with Kalutara 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

Kalutara vs Colombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kalutara wins on cost – living expenses run 35% lower than in Colombo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kalutara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $800 in Kalutara and $1,076 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.

Childcare runs $37.46 in Kalutara versus $37.28 in Colombo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kalutara – 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 Kalutara 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 Kalutara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $533 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kalutara hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Kalutara 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 Kalutara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.