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: $536 in Kandana versus $733 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $866 in Kandana versus $1,166 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,196 in Kandana versus $1,598 in Colombo.

Living in Kandana costs roughly 27% less than in Colombo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kandana 60% lower, Colombo 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.94 LKR 1,256

$4.08 LKR 1,301

-3.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.82 LKR 7,908

$24.75 LKR 7,886

0.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.24 LKR 2,624

$8.12 LKR 2,589

1.48%

Cappuccino

$2.64 LKR 841

$2.74 LKR 873

-3.65%

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

$0.74 LKR 235

$0.68 LKR 216

8.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 120

$0.40 LKR 128

-5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.33 LKR 742

$2.28 LKR 725

2.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 LKR 1,037

$3.28 LKR 1,046

-0.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LKR 566

$1.75 LKR 559

1.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 168

$0.56 LKR 180

-5.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 254

$0.82 LKR 260

-2.44%

Eggs

$2.18 LKR 696

$2.12 LKR 677

2.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.01 LKR 4,465

$14.20 LKR 4,525

-1.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.60 LKR 1,464

$4.69 LKR 1,495

-1.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.83 LKR 2,496

$7.89 LKR 2,513

-0.76%

Apples (1kg)

$7.55 LKR 2,405

$7.39 LKR 2,353

2.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 354

$1.06 LKR 338

4.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.68 LKR 1,811

$5.68 LKR 1,810

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 LKR 386

$1.22 LKR 389

-0.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 354

$1.16 LKR 369

-4.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 LKR 437

$1.40 LKR 447

-2.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 384

$1.18 LKR 377

1.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 191

$0.57 LKR 182

5.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.23 LKR 3,259

$9.90 LKR 3,156

3.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.68 LKR 4,041

$12.46 LKR 3,970

1.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 LKR 646

$2.04 LKR 648

-0.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 LKR 911

$2.83 LKR 903

1.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 LKR 58.6

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.09 LKR 1,621

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 123

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 112

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 185

$0.62 LKR 197

-6.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 LKR 387

$1.19 LKR 380

2.52%

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

$26.5K LKR 8.5M

$27.3K LKR 8.7M

-2.67%

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

$34.8K LKR 11.1M

$34.2K LKR 10.9M

1.82%

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

$61.1 LKR 19.5K

$60.9 LKR 19.4K

0.28%

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

$4.42 LKR 1,409

$4.38 LKR 1,397

0.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.36 LKR 4,892

$15.01 LKR 4,783

2.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.68 LKR 4,678

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.46 LKR 2,376

Cinema Ticket

$3.31 LKR 1,053

$3.44 LKR 1,095

-3.78%

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

$36.31 LKR 11.6K

$37.27 LKR 11.9K

-2.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$446 LKR 141.9K

$433 LKR 137.9K

2.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.14 LKR 8,647

$28.07 LKR 8,943

-3.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.00 LKR 6,055

$19.31 LKR 6,152

-1.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.4 LKR 22.4K

$70.5 LKR 22.5K

-0.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.98 LKR 12.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 117.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 LKR 57.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$970 LKR 309.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$364 LKR 115.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,591 LKR 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,225 LKR 390.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$241 LKR 76.6K

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Colombo: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Kandana vs $25.00 in Colombo. Groceries flip the comparison at $256 vs $255, with Colombo 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

Kandana vs Colombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kandana wins on cost – living expenses run 37% 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 $804 in Kandana and $1,100 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 $36.31 in Kandana versus $37.27 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 $536 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 37% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.