Cost of Living Comparison Between Kandana and Colombo Cost of Living Comparison Between Kandana and Colombo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $517 in Kandana versus $727 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $859 in Kandana versus $1,162 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,201 in Kandana versus $1,596 in Colombo.

Living in Kandana costs roughly 29% less than in Colombo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kandana 61% lower, Colombo 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 LKR 1,334

$3.93 LKR 1,318

1.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.03 LKR 8,399

$24.88 LKR 8,349

0.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 LKR 2,781

$8.46 LKR 2,839

-2.01%

Cappuccino

$2.70 LKR 907

$2.74 LKR 920

-1.46%

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

$0.70 LKR 233

$0.75 LKR 250

-6.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 136

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 LKR 765

$2.32 LKR 777

-1.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 LKR 1,146

$3.27 LKR 1,098

4.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 LKR 580

$1.78 LKR 596

-2.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 189

$0.56 LKR 188

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 278

$0.87 LKR 293

-4.60%

Eggs

$2.11 LKR 707

$2.18 LKR 733

-3.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.95 LKR 4,681

$13.99 LKR 4,694

-0.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 LKR 1,538

$4.71 LKR 1,582

-2.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.15 LKR 2,734

$8.21 LKR 2,755

-0.73%

Apples (1kg)

$7.39 LKR 2,481

$7.43 LKR 2,495

-0.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 372

$1.06 LKR 356

4.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.95 LKR 1,998

$5.73 LKR 1,923

3.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 LKR 405

$1.26 LKR 423

-3.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 390

$1.11 LKR 373

4.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 LKR 459

$1.42 LKR 476

-3.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 LKR 387

$1.16 LKR 388

-0.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 186

$0.56 LKR 187

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.94 LKR 3,335

$10.07 LKR 3,381

-1.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.63 LKR 4,237

$12.68 LKR 4,254

-0.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 LKR 676

$2.08 LKR 696

-3.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 LKR 960

$2.97 LKR 997

-3.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 LKR 55.2

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.07 LKR 1,702

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 128

$0.42 LKR 140

-9.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 110

$0.32 LKR 109

3.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 LKR 207

$0.58 LKR 194

6.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 LKR 419

$1.21 LKR 404

3.31%

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

$27.2K LKR 9.1M

$26.4K LKR 8.9M

3.03%

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

$34.8K LKR 11.7M

$35.4K LKR 11.9M

-1.72%

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

$59.7 LKR 20.0K

-0.07%

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

$4.29 LKR 1,441

$4.30 LKR 1,441

-0.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.35 LKR 5,150

$15.04 LKR 5,045

2.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.69 LKR 4,929

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.27 LKR 2,441

Cinema Ticket

$3.38 LKR 1,133

$3.45 LKR 1,157

-2.03%

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

$37.44 LKR 12.6K

$36.16 LKR 12.1K

3.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$444 LKR 148.9K

$448 LKR 150.2K

-0.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.86 LKR 9,350

$27.11 LKR 9,097

2.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.04 LKR 6,390

$19.30 LKR 6,478

-1.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.2 LKR 22.9K

$70.6 LKR 23.7K

-3.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.30 LKR 12.9K

$39.20 LKR 13.2K

-2.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 123.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 LKR 60.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$940 LKR 315.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 LKR 123.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,615 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,180 LKR 395.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$244 LKR 81.9K

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 Kandana: July 26, 2026

Last update for Colombo: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Kandana vs $25.00 in Colombo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $256 vs $258 per month, with Kandana 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

Kandana vs Colombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kandana wins on cost – living expenses run 41% lower than in Colombo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kandana the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $776 in Kandana and $1,091 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 $37.44 in Kandana versus $36.16 in Colombo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kandana – 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 $1,000 a month, though Kandana 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 Kandana delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $517 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kandana hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Kandana 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 Kandana gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.