😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $833 in Maceio - Alagoas versus $717 in Colombo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,268 in Maceio - Alagoas versus $1,166 in Colombo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,703 in Maceio - Alagoas versus $1,615 in Colombo.
😐Living in Maceio - Alagoas is roughly 16% more expensive than Colombo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Maceio - Alagoas38% lower, Colombo46% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maceio - Alagoas
Colombo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.76R$23.82
$4.13LKR 1,369
15.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.77R$109
$25.16LKR 8,344
-13.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.38R$26.92
$8.20LKR 2,719
-34.39%
Cappuccino
$1.87R$9.36
$2.66LKR 882
-29.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96R$4.81
$0.68LKR 224
41.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45R$2.27
$0.41LKR 135
9.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.46R$7.30
$2.39LKR 793
-38.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68R$13.41
$3.43LKR 1,136
-21.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maceio - Alagoas
Colombo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07R$5.37
$1.73LKR 574
-38.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30R$6.49
$0.53LKR 175
145.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.92R$4.60
$0.83LKR 274
10.84%
Eggs
$2.28R$11.42
$2.23LKR 739
2.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.48R$32.45
$14.02LKR 4,648
-53.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.25R$16.26
$4.65LKR 1,543
-30.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.24R$36.22
$8.01LKR 2,657
-9.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.43R$12.15
$7.37LKR 2,444
-67.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07R$5.36
$1.12LKR 371
-4.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.28R$6.41
$5.83LKR 1,934
-78.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.24R$6.23
$1.25LKR 414
-0.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32R$6.63
$1.14LKR 379
15.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18R$5.90
$1.42LKR 470
-16.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.58R$2.90
$1.14LKR 379
-49.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61R$3.03
$0.59LKR 196
3.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.89R$9.47
$10.01LKR 3,321
-81.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.15R$35.77
$12.73LKR 4,220
-43.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44R$7.20
$2.11LKR 699
-31.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30R$6.49
$2.97LKR 985
-56.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Maceio - Alagoas
Colombo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.70R$3.50
$0.14LKR 48.01
400.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.27R$197
$5.09LKR 1,687
671.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.38R$1.88
$0.38LKR 128
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.32R$1.62
$0.33LKR 109
-3.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.18R$30.95
$0.60LKR 199
930.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.05R$5.24
$1.26LKR 416
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8KR$124.2K
$26.8KLKR 8.9M
-7.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4KR$147.3K
$35.2KLKR 11.7M
-16.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maceio - Alagoas
Colombo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$72.6R$363
$60.5LKR 20.1K
19.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.54R$87.8
$4.27LKR 1,416
310.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.20R$76.0
$15.34LKR 5,086
-0.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maceio - Alagoas
Colombo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.96R$115
$14.79LKR 4,903
55.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.76R$109
$7.11LKR 2,358
206.05%
Cinema Ticket
$5.46R$27.31
$3.28LKR 1,086
66.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maceio - Alagoas
Colombo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$231R$1,156
$37.28LKR 12.4K
519.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,795R$24.0K
$444LKR 147.1K
980.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maceio - Alagoas
Colombo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.12R$246
$27.15LKR 9,002
80.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.0R$340
$19.13LKR 6,344
255.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.3R$447
$70.7LKR 23.4K
26.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.8R$364
$38.24LKR 12.7K
90.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maceio - Alagoas
Colombo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$247R$1,238
$379LKR 125.7K
-34.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$256R$1,282
$178LKR 59.0K
43.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$534R$2,674
$937LKR 310.7K
-42.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$421R$2,108
$361LKR 119.6K
16.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,516R$7,586
$3,724LKR 1.2M
-59.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$688R$3,443
$1,189LKR 394.1K
-42.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maceio - Alagoas
Colombo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$588R$2,942
$247LKR 82.1K
137.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.5
16.45
-42.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Maceio - Alagoas: May 31, 2026
Last update for Colombo: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $247 in Maceio - Alagoas and $379 in Colombo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Maceio - Alagoas pays 138% 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: $22.00 in Maceio - Alagoas vs $25.00 in Colombo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $164 vs $257 per month, with Maceio - Alagoas 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
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 16% 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 Colombo?
Maceio - Alagoas pays 138% more on average, 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 vs Colombo?
Rent for a central apartment: $247 in Maceio - Alagoas versus $379 in Colombo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Maceio - Alagoas or Colombo?
Shoppers in Maceio - Alagoas pay roughly 57% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Maceio - Alagoas vs Colombo?
Dining out is cheaper in Colombo – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $22.00 in Maceio - Alagoas. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Maceio - Alagoas or Colombo?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Colombo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Maceio - Alagoas or Colombo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Colombo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $717 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 16% 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