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: $525 in Kandana versus $725 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $853 in Kandana versus $1,160 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,181 in Kandana versus $1,595 in Colombo.

Living in Kandana costs roughly 28% less than in Colombo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kandana 61% lower, Colombo 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.05 LKR 1,351

$3.98 LKR 1,326

1.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.85 LKR 8,288

$25.39 LKR 8,469

-2.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 LKR 2,710

$8.59 LKR 2,865

-5.47%

Cappuccino

$2.75 LKR 917

$2.61 LKR 872

5.36%

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

$0.68 LKR 225

$0.73 LKR 242

-6.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 LKR 124

$0.38 LKR 126

-2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 LKR 761

$2.30 LKR 769

-0.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 LKR 1,136

$3.26 LKR 1,087

4.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 LKR 573

$1.69 LKR 564

1.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 188

$0.56 LKR 186

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 LKR 287

$0.82 LKR 274

4.88%

Eggs

$2.20 LKR 733

$2.21 LKR 738

-0.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.36 LKR 4,789

$14.16 LKR 4,724

1.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 LKR 1,593

$4.74 LKR 1,581

0.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.83 LKR 2,610

$8.28 LKR 2,761

-5.43%

Apples (1kg)

$7.44 LKR 2,481

$7.44 LKR 2,480

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 LKR 360

$1.11 LKR 370

-2.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.63 LKR 1,878

$5.89 LKR 1,966

-4.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 415

$1.20 LKR 400

3.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 383

$1.16 LKR 387

-0.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 LKR 468

$1.36 LKR 452

2.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 401

$1.19 LKR 396

0.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 201

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.04 LKR 3,349

$10.17 LKR 3,392

-1.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.60 LKR 4,201

$12.86 LKR 4,290

-2.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 LKR 701

$2.11 LKR 703

-0.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 LKR 946

$2.99 LKR 997

-5.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 LKR 64.5

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.96 LKR 1,656

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 130

$0.39 LKR 129

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 109

$0.35 LKR 117

-5.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 LKR 187

$0.56 LKR 188

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 404

$1.26 LKR 421

-3.97%

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

$26.8K LKR 8.9M

$26.8K LKR 9.0M

-0.06%

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

$34.8K LKR 11.6M

$34.7K LKR 11.6M

0.48%

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

$59.7 LKR 19.9K

$60.9 LKR 20.3K

-2.00%

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

$4.25 LKR 1,419

$4.29 LKR 1,433

-0.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.86 LKR 4,956

$14.85 LKR 4,954

0.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.58 LKR 4,862

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.44 LKR 2,482

Cinema Ticket

$3.29 LKR 1,097

$3.28 LKR 1,093

0.30%

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

$36.29 LKR 12.1K

$36.45 LKR 12.2K

-0.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$443 LKR 147.7K

$440 LKR 146.8K

0.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.09 LKR 9,371

$28.09 LKR 9,369

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.42 LKR 6,478

$19.63 LKR 6,549

-1.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.3 LKR 22.8K

$70.0 LKR 23.3K

-2.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.01 LKR 13.0K

$38.80 LKR 12.9K

0.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 LKR 122.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 LKR 58.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$937 LKR 312.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 LKR 122.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,583 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,157 LKR 385.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$240 LKR 80.0K

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Colombo: June 8, 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 $258 vs $259 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 38% 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 $788 in Kandana and $1,087 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 $36.29 in Kandana 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 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 $525 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 38% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.