😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $718 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $1,086 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $1,454 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 223% more expensive than in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 69% above, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is 48% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.89
$4.35LKR 1,427
297.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€54.4
$24.79LKR 8,133
155.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.80
$7.54LKR 2,473
51.06%
Cappuccino
$3.19€2.75
$2.51LKR 823
27.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.10
$0.68LKR 224
260.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$0.25LKR 81.4
604.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59€3.09
$2.19LKR 720
63.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.92
$3.10LKR 1,018
9.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.06
$1.31LKR 430
-5.34%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.71
$0.57LKR 186
247.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$0.69LKR 227
120.29%
Eggs
$4.04€3.48
$1.60LKR 524
152.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.54€11.65
$13.31LKR 4,368
1.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39€7.22
$4.38LKR 1,438
91.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25€15.70
$5.31LKR 1,742
243.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$6.25LKR 2,050
-63.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$0.88LKR 288
97.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$4.31LKR 1,415
-56.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.26
$1.19LKR 390
121.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$0.93LKR 306
106.45%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$0.75LKR 246
178.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$0.89LKR 293
61.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$0.49LKR 160
71.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.83
$9.19LKR 3,017
-26.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.91
$12.48LKR 4,093
-54.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$1.92LKR 630
-28.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
$2.81LKR 923
-21.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40€2.06
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.78€40.25
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.59
$0.31LKR 102
1245.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$0.37LKR 122
208.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.21
$0.88LKR 290
1909.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$1.16LKR 379
100.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.4K
$30.9KLKR 10.1M
14.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.7K
$42.0KLKR 13.8M
-1.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€147
$45.15LKR 14.8K
277.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34€16.64
$4.29LKR 1,408
350.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64€28.95
$12.22LKR 4,009
175.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10€41.39
$14.98LKR 4,915
221.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90€17.12
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.92€8.54
$3.10LKR 1,017
220.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$717€617
$38.65LKR 12.7K
1755.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.0K
$896LKR 293.9K
1850.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$19.93LKR 6,540
425.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95€40.40
$16.57LKR 5,438
183.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.0
$78.7LKR 25.8K
31.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$41.75LKR 13.7K
196.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,677€1,443
$307LKR 100.8K
445.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,271€1,094
$228LKR 74.8K
457.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,568
$448LKR 146.9K
566.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,715
$385LKR 126.5K
416.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,826€6,734
$671LKR 220.0K
1066.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,658€4,008
$542LKR 177.9K
758.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,362
$309LKR 101.4K
412.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
12.69
-70.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $307 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 412% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $25.00 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $219 per month, with Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 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
Lisbon vs Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte?
Lisbon and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte differ by about 223% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $718 including rent). Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte?
Average pay runs 412% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,677 in Lisbon versus $307 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte?
All in, you'll spend $2,316 per month in Lisbon versus $718 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte – a 223% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $718 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte?
Expats usually find Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte gentler on the wallet – expenses run 223% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.