Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kalutara and Singapore

For one person, living is cheaper in Kalutara: $612 a month against $3,594 in Singapore, rent and utilities included – about $35,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kalutara, Sri Lanka
Singapore, Singapore
Kalutara
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
$612
/mo nomad
Singapore
🇸🇬 Singapore
$3,594
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kalutara and in Singapore

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $612 in Kalutara versus $3,594 in Singapore.

  • Kalutara $612
  • Singapore $3,594

Estimated couple costs with rent: $896 in Kalutara versus $5,314 in Singapore.

  • Kalutara $896
  • Singapore $5,314

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,179 in Kalutara versus $7,033 in Singapore.

  • Kalutara $1,179
  • Singapore $7,033

Living in Kalutara costs roughly 83% less than in Singapore, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kalutara is 55% below, Singapore is 166% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalutara
Singapore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.86 LKR 1,285
$11.58 SGD 14.78
-66.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.82 LKR 8,252
$70.7 SGD 90.2
-64.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.38 LKR 2,453
$8.46 SGD 10.80
-12.77%
Cappuccino
$2.43 LKR 807
$5.18 SGD 6.62
-53.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 LKR 228
$1.84 SGD 2.35
-63.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 LKR 82.5
$1.23 SGD 1.57
-79.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.26 LKR 752
$9.50 SGD 12.13
-76.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 LKR 991
$9.86 SGD 12.59
-69.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalutara
Singapore
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 LKR 537
$3.02 SGD 3.86
-46.36%
White Bread (500g)
$0.54 LKR 179
$2.67 SGD 3.41
-79.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.75 LKR 249
$2.77 SGD 3.53
-72.92%
Eggs
$1.68 LKR 560
$3.72 SGD 4.75
-54.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.02 LKR 4,994
$21.01 SGD 26.82
-28.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.98 LKR 1,655
$9.95 SGD 12.70
-49.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.47 LKR 2,485
$25.13 SGD 32.08
-70.27%
Apples (1kg)
$6.67 LKR 2,216
$4.59 SGD 5.86
45.32%
Banana (1kg)
$0.87 LKR 290
$3.09 SGD 3.95
-71.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.10 LKR 1,363
$4.64 SGD 5.93
-11.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.33 LKR 441
$2.18 SGD 2.78
-38.99%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 LKR 358
$2.33 SGD 2.98
-53.65%
Onion (1kg)
$0.84 LKR 279
$2.31 SGD 2.95
-63.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.21 LKR 402
$1.86 SGD 2.38
-34.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 LKR 152
$1.55 SGD 1.97
-70.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.41 LKR 3,460
$14.11 SGD 18.01
-26.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.48 LKR 4,483
$23.24 SGD 29.67
-42.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 LKR 649
$4.73 SGD 6.04
-58.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 LKR 980
$4.79 SGD 6.12
-38.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalutara
Singapore
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.13 LKR 44.22
$1.53 SGD 1.95
-91.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.00 LKR 2,993
$96.5 SGD 123
-90.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.37 LKR 123
$3.58 SGD 4.58
-89.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.18 LKR 58.6
$0.76 SGD 0.97
-76.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.94 LKR 313
$16.98 SGD 21.67
-94.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 LKR 459
$2.46 SGD 3.13
-43.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.4K LKR 14.8M
$159.4K SGD 203.5K
-72.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.8K LKR 14.9M
$155.7K SGD 198.8K
-71.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalutara
Singapore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.8 LKR 18.9K
$168 SGD 214
-66.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.19 LKR 1,393
$12.24 SGD 15.62
-65.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.12 LKR 7,023
$28.18 SGD 35.98
-25.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalutara
Singapore
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$9.19 LKR 3,056
$111 SGD 141
-91.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.60 SGD 14.81
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.61 LKR 1,533
$12.24 SGD 15.63
-62.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalutara
Singapore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$40.52 LKR 13.5K
$1,899 SGD 2,424
-97.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.1K LKR 5.7M
$39.1K SGD 49.9K
-56.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalutara
Singapore
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.99 LKR 5,980
$79.6 SGD 102
-77.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.26 LKR 5,740
$50.7 SGD 64.7
-65.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 LKR 25.9K
$112 SGD 142
-30.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.87 LKR 13.6K
$125 SGD 159
-67.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalutara
Singapore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,191 SGD 4,074
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$85.5 LKR 28.4K
$2,257 SGD 2,881
-96.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$6,173 SGD 7,881
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$4,035 SGD 5,151
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$23.6K SGD 30.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$16.5K SGD 21.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalutara
Singapore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,526 SGD 5,778
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.5
2.44
412.30%

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

Last update for Kalutara: November 2, 2026

Last update for Singapore: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Kalutara
$243
Singapore
$459 89% $216
Eating Out
Kalutara
$103
Singapore
$260 152% $157
Accommodation & Living
Kalutara
$86
Singapore
$2.3K 2539% $2.2K
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalutara
$82
Singapore
$208 154% $126
Clothing & Footwear
Kalutara
$69
Singapore
$165 138% $96
Sport & Entertainment
Kalutara
$18
Singapore
$135 634% $117
Getting Around
Kalutara
$11
Singapore
$110 920% $99

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25 in Kalutara vs $71 in Singapore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $459 per month, with Kalutara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇱🇰 Kalutara
🇸🇬 Singapore
🕒 Local time
13:39 1:39 PM
16:09 4:09 PM
2 h 30 min ahead of Kalutara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
39,600
5,535,002 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

SGD, USD, EUR to LKR – Sri Lankan Rupee Converter

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 333 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD). 1 EUR = 373 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.68 EUR).

Singapore Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.28 SGD (1 SGD = 0.783 USD). 1 EUR = 1.43 SGD (1 SGD = 0.697 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kalutara Singapore 2,710 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kalutara
  • Singapore

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
Kalutara vs Singapore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kalutara or Singapore?
Kalutara wins on cost – living expenses run 83% lower than in Singapore. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Kalutara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kalutara and in Singapore?
You’d need roughly $919 in Kalutara and $5,392 in Singapore 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 expensive is transport in Kalutara compared to Singapore?
A monthly transit pass in Kalutara runs roughly 91% less than in Singapore. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Kalutara and in Singapore?
Childcare runs $41 in Kalutara versus $1,899 in Singapore. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $800/month in Kalutara or in Singapore?
At $612 in Kalutara versus $3,594 in Singapore, a $800 budget is realistic in Kalutara but tight or insufficient in Singapore. The gap between the two cities makes Kalutara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Kalutara or Singapore?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Kalutara compared to Singapore?
Safety-wise, Kalutara and Singapore are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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