Cost of Living Comparison Between Maharagama and Colombo Cost of Living Comparison Between Maharagama and Colombo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $463 in Maharagama versus $725 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $796 in Maharagama versus $1,160 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,130 in Maharagama versus $1,595 in Colombo.

Living in Maharagama costs roughly 36% less than in Colombo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maharagama 66% lower, Colombo 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 LKR 1,326

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.39 LKR 8,469

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.59 LKR 2,865

Cappuccino

$2.61 LKR 872

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

$0.73 LKR 242

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 126

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 LKR 769

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 LKR 1,087

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 LKR 623

$1.69 LKR 564

10.65%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 173

$0.56 LKR 186

-7.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.78 LKR 262

$0.82 LKR 274

-4.88%

Eggs

$2.11 LKR 704

$2.21 LKR 738

-4.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 LKR 5,423

$14.16 LKR 4,724

14.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.96 LKR 1,987

$4.74 LKR 1,581

25.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.99 LKR 3,667

$8.28 LKR 2,761

32.73%

Apples (1kg)

$11.75 LKR 3,920

$7.44 LKR 2,480

57.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 415

$1.11 LKR 370

11.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$10.12 LKR 3,376

$5.89 LKR 1,966

71.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 LKR 608

$1.20 LKR 400

51.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 LKR 396

$1.16 LKR 387

2.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 388

$1.36 LKR 452

-14.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 LKR 520

$1.19 LKR 396

31.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 LKR 192

$0.60 LKR 201

-3.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.69 LKR 3,233

$10.17 LKR 3,392

-4.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.86 LKR 4,290

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 LKR 688

$2.11 LKR 703

-2.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 LKR 1,055

$2.99 LKR 997

5.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 LKR 64.5

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.37 LKR 1,125

$4.96 LKR 1,656

-32.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.32 LKR 106

$0.39 LKR 129

-17.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 LKR 96.7

$0.35 LKR 117

-17.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 LKR 188

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 LKR 459

$1.26 LKR 421

8.73%

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

$26.8K LKR 9.0M

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

$34.7K LKR 11.6M

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

$54.2 LKR 18.1K

$60.9 LKR 20.3K

-10.98%

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

$3.30 LKR 1,101

$4.29 LKR 1,433

-23.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.75 LKR 4,254

$14.85 LKR 4,954

-14.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.52 LKR 4,510

$14.58 LKR 4,862

-7.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.44 LKR 2,482

Cinema Ticket

$5.04 LKR 1,680

$3.28 LKR 1,093

53.66%

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

$67.7 LKR 22.6K

$36.45 LKR 12.2K

85.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$504 LKR 168.0K

$440 LKR 146.8K

14.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.76 LKR 8,258

$28.09 LKR 9,369

-11.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.58 LKR 4,529

$19.63 LKR 6,549

-30.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.8 LKR 18.6K

$70.0 LKR 23.3K

-20.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.4 LKR 19.2K

$38.80 LKR 12.9K

48.02%

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)

$167 LKR 55.8K

$937 LKR 312.5K

-82.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$119 LKR 39.5K

$366 LKR 122.1K

-67.63%

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

3.34%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Maharagama: June 6, 2026

Last update for Colombo: June 8, 2026

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

Maharagama vs Colombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maharagama wins on cost – living expenses run 57% lower than in Colombo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Maharagama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $694 in Maharagama 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 $67.7 in Maharagama versus $36.45 in Colombo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

A monthly transit pass in Maharagama runs roughly 47% less than in Colombo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Maharagama 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 Maharagama delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $463 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Maharagama hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Maharagama 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 Maharagama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.