Cost of Living Comparison Between Kataragama and Colombo Cost of Living Comparison Between Kataragama and Colombo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $525 in Kataragama versus $717 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $867 in Kataragama versus $1,166 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,210 in Kataragama versus $1,615 in Colombo.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.90 LKR 1,294

$4.13 LKR 1,369

-5.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.32 LKR 8,395

$25.16 LKR 8,344

0.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.30 LKR 2,752

$8.20 LKR 2,719

1.22%

Cappuccino

$2.72 LKR 901

$2.66 LKR 882

2.26%

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

$0.69 LKR 230

$0.68 LKR 224

1.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 134

$0.41 LKR 135

-2.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 LKR 798

$2.39 LKR 793

0.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 LKR 1,144

$3.43 LKR 1,136

0.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 LKR 570

$1.73 LKR 574

-0.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 175

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 290

$0.83 LKR 274

4.82%

Eggs

$2.15 LKR 711

$2.23 LKR 739

-3.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 LKR 4,629

$14.02 LKR 4,648

-0.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.76 LKR 1,579

$4.65 LKR 1,543

2.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.94 LKR 2,633

$8.01 LKR 2,657

-0.87%

Apples (1kg)

$7.28 LKR 2,414

$7.37 LKR 2,444

-1.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 354

$1.12 LKR 371

-4.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.77 LKR 1,912

$5.83 LKR 1,934

-1.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 412

$1.25 LKR 414

-0.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 382

$1.14 LKR 379

0.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 LKR 447

$1.42 LKR 470

-4.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 LKR 381

$1.14 LKR 379

0.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 LKR 196

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.01 LKR 3,318

$10.01 LKR 3,321

Wine (Bottle)

$12.61 LKR 4,180

$12.73 LKR 4,220

-0.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 LKR 662

$2.11 LKR 699

-5.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 LKR 940

$2.97 LKR 985

-4.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 LKR 48.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.09 LKR 1,687

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 129

$0.38 LKR 128

2.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 LKR 107

$0.33 LKR 109

-3.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 LKR 187

$0.60 LKR 199

-6.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 399

$1.26 LKR 416

-4.76%

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

$27.0K LKR 9.0M

$26.8K LKR 8.9M

0.89%

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

$34.2K LKR 11.3M

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

-2.84%

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

$60.4 LKR 20.0K

$60.5 LKR 20.1K

-0.18%

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

$4.23 LKR 1,402

$4.27 LKR 1,416

-0.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.00 LKR 4,973

$15.34 LKR 5,086

-2.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.79 LKR 4,903

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.11 LKR 2,358

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,088

$3.28 LKR 1,086

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

$36.54 LKR 12.1K

$37.28 LKR 12.4K

-1.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$448 LKR 148.5K

$444 LKR 147.1K

0.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.77 LKR 9,207

$27.15 LKR 9,002

2.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.36 LKR 6,418

$19.13 LKR 6,344

1.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.7 LKR 22.8K

$70.7 LKR 23.4K

-2.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.31 LKR 13.0K

$38.24 LKR 12.7K

2.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$379 LKR 125.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 LKR 59.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$937 LKR 310.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 LKR 119.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,724 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,189 LKR 394.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$247 LKR 82.1K

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 Kataragama: May 30, 2026

Last update for Colombo: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Kataragama vs $25.00 in Colombo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $255 vs $257 per month, with Kataragama 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

Kataragama vs Colombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kataragama wins on cost – living expenses run 37% lower than in Colombo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kataragama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $788 in Kataragama 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 $36.54 in Kataragama versus $37.28 in Colombo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kataragama – 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 $800 a month, though Kataragama 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 Kataragama delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $525 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kataragama hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Kataragama 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.