Cost of Living Comparison Between Kolonnawa and Colombo Cost of Living Comparison Between Kolonnawa and Colombo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $507 in Kolonnawa versus $725 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $826 in Kolonnawa versus $1,160 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,144 in Kolonnawa versus $1,595 in Colombo.

Living in Kolonnawa costs roughly 30% less than in Colombo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kolonnawa 62% lower, Colombo 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.08 LKR 1,361

$3.98 LKR 1,326

2.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.32 LKR 8,445

$25.39 LKR 8,469

-0.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.28 LKR 2,761

$8.59 LKR 2,865

-3.61%

Cappuccino

$2.75 LKR 918

$2.61 LKR 872

5.36%

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

$0.69 LKR 231

$0.73 LKR 242

-5.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 126

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 LKR 767

$2.30 LKR 769

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 LKR 1,088

$3.26 LKR 1,087

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 LKR 573

$1.69 LKR 564

1.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 174

$0.56 LKR 186

-7.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.74 LKR 247

$0.82 LKR 274

-9.76%

Eggs

$2.16 LKR 719

$2.21 LKR 738

-2.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 LKR 2,755

$14.16 LKR 4,724

-41.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 LKR 1,572

$4.74 LKR 1,581

-0.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.07 LKR 2,693

$8.28 LKR 2,761

-2.54%

Apples (1kg)

$7.32 LKR 2,442

$7.44 LKR 2,480

-1.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 358

$1.11 LKR 370

-3.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 LKR 1,935

$5.89 LKR 1,966

-1.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 422

$1.20 LKR 400

5.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 LKR 366

$1.16 LKR 387

-5.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 LKR 466

$1.36 LKR 452

2.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 LKR 383

$1.19 LKR 396

-3.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 172

$0.60 LKR 201

-13.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.92 LKR 3,310

$10.17 LKR 3,392

-2.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.34 LKR 3,447

$12.86 LKR 4,290

-19.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 LKR 664

$2.11 LKR 703

-5.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 LKR 809

$2.99 LKR 997

-18.73%

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)

$0.41 LKR 137

$0.39 LKR 129

5.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 117

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 200

$0.56 LKR 188

7.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 401

$1.26 LKR 421

-4.76%

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

$27.0K LKR 9.0M

$26.8K LKR 9.0M

0.58%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

$34.7K LKR 11.6M

1.51%

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

$59.9 LKR 20.0K

$60.9 LKR 20.3K

-1.71%

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

$4.21 LKR 1,404

$4.29 LKR 1,433

-1.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.88 LKR 4,964

$14.85 LKR 4,954

0.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.13 LKR 3,379

$14.58 LKR 4,862

-30.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.66 LKR 553

$7.44 LKR 2,482

-77.69%

Cinema Ticket

$3.38 LKR 1,129

$3.28 LKR 1,093

3.05%

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

$37.47 LKR 12.5K

$36.45 LKR 12.2K

2.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$439 LKR 146.5K

$440 LKR 146.8K

-0.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.75 LKR 9,258

$28.09 LKR 9,369

-1.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.76 LKR 6,591

$19.63 LKR 6,549

0.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.2 LKR 22.7K

$70.0 LKR 23.3K

-2.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.86 LKR 13.0K

$38.80 LKR 12.9K

0.15%

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 Kolonnawa: June 6, 2026

Last update for Colombo: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Kolonnawa vs $25.00 in Colombo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $259 per month, with Kolonnawa 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

Kolonnawa vs Colombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kolonnawa wins on cost – living expenses run 43% lower than in Colombo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kolonnawa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $761 in Kolonnawa 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 $37.47 in Kolonnawa 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 Kolonnawa – 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 Kolonnawa 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 Kolonnawa delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $507 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kolonnawa hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Kolonnawa 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 Kolonnawa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.