😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $809 in Maceio - Alagoas versus $771 in Colombo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,266 in Maceio - Alagoas versus $1,191 in Colombo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,722 in Maceio - Alagoas versus $1,610 in Colombo.
🌍Living in Maceio - Alagoas is roughly 5% more expensive than in Colombo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Maceio - Alagoas41% lower, Colombo44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maceio - Alagoas
Colombo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.85R$29.85
$4.51LKR 1,480
29.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.52R$145
$25.96LKR 8,517
9.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.73R$29.23
$7.80LKR 2,557
-26.54%
Cappuccino
$1.70R$8.67
$2.47LKR 810
-31.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07R$5.46
$0.70LKR 228
52.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47R$2.37
$0.25LKR 81.8
88.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.58R$8.04
$2.24LKR 734
-29.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93R$20.05
$3.08LKR 1,010
27.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maceio - Alagoas
Colombo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09R$5.56
$1.63LKR 535
-33.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.92R$9.80
$0.57LKR 187
236.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02R$5.20
$0.80LKR 264
27.50%
Eggs
$1.88R$9.60
$1.65LKR 541
13.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.02R$46.02
$13.08LKR 4,292
-31.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.49R$22.91
$4.96LKR 1,627
-9.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.24R$36.93
$7.27LKR 2,384
-0.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76R$14.07
$6.76LKR 2,218
-59.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09R$5.56
$0.83LKR 272
31.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.30R$6.63
$4.17LKR 1,369
-68.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.26R$6.41
$1.29LKR 423
-2.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37R$6.96
$1.05LKR 343
30.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.28R$6.52
$0.81LKR 266
58.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.57R$2.90
$0.88LKR 290
-35.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79R$4.01
$0.49LKR 159
61.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.03R$10.38
$10.25LKR 3,361
-80.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.94R$35.39
$13.97LKR 4,583
-50.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49R$7.60
$1.89LKR 621
-21.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45R$7.40
$2.78LKR 910
-47.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Maceio - Alagoas
Colombo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.74R$3.80
$0.17LKR 56.5
335.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$7.39LKR 2,425
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.41R$2.08
$0.42LKR 137
-2.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38R$1.93
$0.36LKR 117
5.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$0.88LKR 288
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17R$5.96
$1.33LKR 435
-12.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KR$107.9K
$30.4KLKR 10.0M
-30.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9KR$152.6K
$41.7KLKR 13.7M
-28.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maceio - Alagoas
Colombo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.1R$398
$54.9LKR 18.0K
42.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.76R$80.4
$4.13LKR 1,354
281.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.30R$88.2
$20.85LKR 6,838
-17.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maceio - Alagoas
Colombo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.73R$121
$14.29LKR 4,687
66.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$5.67LKR 1,858
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.72R$29.18
$4.33LKR 1,419
32.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maceio - Alagoas
Colombo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$212R$1,084
$37.34LKR 12.2K
469.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,070R$36.1K
$1,223LKR 401.1K
478.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maceio - Alagoas
Colombo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6R$268
$19.78LKR 6,487
166.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$75.1R$383
$16.93LKR 5,555
343.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.2R$475
$79.4LKR 26.0K
17.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.3R$399
$42.25LKR 13.9K
85.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maceio - Alagoas
Colombo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$284R$1,448
$547LKR 179.5K
-48.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237R$1,210
$248LKR 81.2K
-4.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$474R$2,415
$1,575LKR 516.8K
-69.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$466R$2,378
$403LKR 132.3K
15.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,494R$7,617
$3,772LKR 1.2M
-60.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$663R$3,380
$1,203LKR 394.7K
-44.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maceio - Alagoas
Colombo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$581R$2,961
$250LKR 82.0K
132.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.17
12.69
-19.86%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Maceio - Alagoas: August 31, 2026
Last update for Colombo: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Maceio - Alagoas and $547 in Colombo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Maceio - Alagoas pays 132% 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: $29.00 in Maceio - Alagoas vs $26.00 in Colombo. Groceries flip the comparison at $187 vs $237, with Maceio - Alagoas 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
Maceio - Alagoas vs Colombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Maceio - Alagoas or Colombo?
Colombo wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Maceio - Alagoas. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Colombo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Maceio - Alagoas or in Colombo?
Average pay runs 132% higher in Maceio - Alagoas, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Maceio - Alagoas compared to Colombo?
Rent for a central apartment: $284 in Maceio - Alagoas versus $547 in Colombo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Maceio - Alagoas and in Colombo?
Childcare runs $212 in Maceio - Alagoas versus $37.34 in Colombo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Maceio - Alagoas and in Colombo?
Dining out is cheaper in Colombo – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $29.00 in Maceio - Alagoas. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Maceio - Alagoas or in Colombo?
At $771 in Colombo versus $809 in Maceio - Alagoas, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Colombo but tight or insufficient in Maceio - Alagoas. The gap between the two cities makes Colombo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Maceio - Alagoas or Colombo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Colombo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $771 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Colombo hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Colombo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Maceio - Alagoas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Maceio - Alagoas vs other spots: cost of living compared