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: $544 in Kalutara versus $718 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $874 in Kalutara versus $1,153 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,203 in Kalutara versus $1,588 in Colombo.

Living in Kalutara costs roughly 24% less than in Colombo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kalutara 59% lower, Colombo 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.93 LKR 1,320

$4.07 LKR 1,366

-3.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.56 LKR 8,586

$25.28 LKR 8,492

1.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.26 LKR 2,775

$8.60 LKR 2,891

-3.95%

Cappuccino

$2.71 LKR 910

$2.71 LKR 909

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

$0.73 LKR 246

$0.69 LKR 232

5.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 137

$0.40 LKR 136

2.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 LKR 794

$2.27 LKR 764

3.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 LKR 1,155

$3.27 LKR 1,099

5.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 LKR 578

$1.70 LKR 571

1.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 LKR 173

$0.55 LKR 185

-7.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 293

$0.88 LKR 295

-1.14%

Eggs

$2.19 LKR 734

$2.14 LKR 721

2.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.86 LKR 4,656

$13.88 LKR 4,662

-0.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 LKR 1,591

$4.78 LKR 1,606

-1.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.93 LKR 2,664

$8.09 LKR 2,717

-1.98%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 LKR 2,575

$7.65 LKR 2,570

0.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 373

$1.07 LKR 359

3.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 LKR 1,957

$5.84 LKR 1,963

-0.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 LKR 408

$1.25 LKR 421

-2.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 LKR 384

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 LKR 464

$1.36 LKR 458

1.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 LKR 383

$1.20 LKR 403

-5.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 191

$0.56 LKR 190

1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.08 LKR 3,386

$9.99 LKR 3,358

0.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.68 LKR 4,260

$12.70 LKR 4,266

-0.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 LKR 701

$2.09 LKR 702

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 LKR 958

$2.90 LKR 974

-1.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 LKR 54.7

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.93 LKR 1,657

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 141

$0.38 LKR 129

10.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 119

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 190

$0.62 LKR 207

-8.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 407

$1.19 LKR 401

1.68%

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

$26.8K LKR 9.0M

$27.2K LKR 9.1M

-1.30%

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

$34.2K LKR 11.5M

$34.3K LKR 11.5M

-0.14%

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

$59.1 LKR 19.8K

$59.6 LKR 20.0K

-0.92%

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

$4.43 LKR 1,489

$4.30 LKR 1,444

3.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.99 LKR 5,036

$15.37 LKR 5,165

-2.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.93 LKR 3,337

$14.83 LKR 4,984

-33.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.39 LKR 2,484

Cinema Ticket

$3.37 LKR 1,131

$3.28 LKR 1,103

2.74%

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

$36.12 LKR 12.1K

$36.45 LKR 12.2K

-0.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$436 LKR 146.6K

$442 LKR 148.5K

-1.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.88 LKR 9,368

$27.73 LKR 9,318

0.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.76 LKR 6,638

$19.12 LKR 6,425

3.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.2 LKR 23.6K

$69.2 LKR 23.2K

1.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.30 LKR 13.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 123.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 LKR 58.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$971 LKR 326.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 LKR 123.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,586 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,156 LKR 388.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$251 LKR 84.2K

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Colombo: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $26.00 in Kalutara vs $25.00 in Colombo. Groceries flip the comparison at $257 vs $258, with Kalutara 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

Kalutara vs Colombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kalutara wins on cost – living expenses run 32% 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 $816 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 $36.12 in Kalutara versus $36.45 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 $26.00 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 $544 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 32% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.