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: $472 in Maharagama versus $733 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $789 in Maharagama versus $1,166 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,106 in Maharagama versus $1,598 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 65% lower, Colombo 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.08 LKR 1,302

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.75 LKR 7,894

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 LKR 2,591

Cappuccino

$2.74 LKR 874

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

$0.68 LKR 216

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 129

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 LKR 726

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 LKR 1,047

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 LKR 622

$1.75 LKR 559

11.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 LKR 163

$0.56 LKR 180

-8.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 243

$0.82 LKR 261

-7.32%

Eggs

$2.11 LKR 672

$2.12 LKR 677

-0.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 LKR 5,186

$14.20 LKR 4,529

14.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.78 LKR 1,842

$4.69 LKR 1,496

23.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.74 LKR 3,425

$7.89 LKR 2,515

36.12%

Apples (1kg)

$11.49 LKR 3,665

$7.39 LKR 2,355

55.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 LKR 392

$1.06 LKR 339

16.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$10.00 LKR 3,188

$5.68 LKR 1,812

76.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.85 LKR 591

$1.22 LKR 389

51.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 368

$1.16 LKR 369

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 371

$1.40 LKR 447

-17.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.63 LKR 519

$1.18 LKR 377

38.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 LKR 193

$0.57 LKR 182

7.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.78 LKR 3,118

$9.90 LKR 3,159

-1.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.46 LKR 3,974

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 LKR 635

$2.04 LKR 649

-2.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 LKR 1,033

$2.83 LKR 904

14.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 LKR 58.7

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.30 LKR 1,051

$5.09 LKR 1,622

-35.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.32 LKR 101

$0.39 LKR 123

-17.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 LKR 99.5

$0.35 LKR 112

-11.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 LKR 197

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 LKR 438

$1.19 LKR 381

15.13%

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

$27.3K LKR 8.7M

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

$34.2K LKR 10.9M

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

$53.7 LKR 17.1K

$60.9 LKR 19.4K

-11.85%

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

$3.44 LKR 1,097

$4.38 LKR 1,398

-21.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.68 LKR 4,044

$15.01 LKR 4,788

-15.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.44 LKR 4,288

$14.68 LKR 4,682

-8.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.46 LKR 2,379

Cinema Ticket

$5.09 LKR 1,622

$3.44 LKR 1,096

47.97%

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

$68.0 LKR 21.7K

$37.27 LKR 11.9K

82.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$510 LKR 162.7K

$433 LKR 138.0K

17.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.77 LKR 7,899

$28.07 LKR 8,951

-11.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.55 LKR 4,322

$19.31 LKR 6,158

-29.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.8 LKR 17.5K

$70.5 LKR 22.5K

-22.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.3 LKR 18.6K

$38.98 LKR 12.4K

49.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 117.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 LKR 57.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 LKR 52.5K

$970 LKR 309.3K

-83.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 LKR 36.9K

$364 LKR 116.0K

-68.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,591 LKR 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,225 LKR 390.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$241 LKR 76.7K

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Colombo: April 26, 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 55% 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 $709 in Maharagama and $1,100 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 $68.0 in Maharagama versus $37.27 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 54% 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 $472 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 55% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.