Cost of Living Comparison Between Negombo and Santa Tecla Cost of Living Comparison Between Negombo and Santa Tecla

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $413 in Negombo versus $1,375 in Santa Tecla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $687 in Negombo versus $1,962 in Santa Tecla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $962 in Negombo versus $2,548 in Santa Tecla.

Living in Negombo costs roughly 70% less than in Santa Tecla, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Negombo is 69% below, Santa Tecla is 3% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.96 LKR 1,312

$7.81 $7.81

-49.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.05 LKR 5,986

$35.13 $35.13

-48.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.33 LKR 2,762

$7.09 $7.09

17.49%

Cappuccino

$1.39 LKR 461

$3.31 $3.31

-58.01%

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

$0.73 LKR 243

$1.09 $1.09

-33.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 125

$0.90 $0.90

-57.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 LKR 657

$2.04 $2.04

-2.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 LKR 1,118

$2.92 $2.92

15.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 LKR 509

$1.76 $1.76

-12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 LKR 161

$2.05 $2.05

-76.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 267

$1.55 $1.55

-47.74%

Eggs

$2.19 LKR 726

$2.38 $2.38

-7.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.35 LKR 4,757

$6.94 $6.94

106.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.60 LKR 1,525

$5.62 $5.62

-18.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.64 LKR 1,871

$10.80 $10.80

-47.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 LKR 653

$3.09 $3.09

-36.25%

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 LKR 254

$1.66 $1.66

-53.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.49 LKR 826

$2.62 $2.62

-4.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 LKR 397

$2.62 $2.62

-54.20%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 LKR 283

$2.26 $2.26

-62.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 LKR 321

$2.13 $2.13

-54.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 LKR 323

$1.00 $1.00

-3.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 188

$1.07 $1.07

-46.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.90 LKR 2,952

$4.06 $4.06

119.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.93 LKR 4,286

$11.21 $11.21

15.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 LKR 687

$1.71 $1.71

21.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 986

$2.53 $2.53

17.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 LKR 105

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 129

$5.44 $5.44

-92.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 109

$3.00 $3.00

-89.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 189

$20.18 $20.18

-97.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 418

$0.98 $0.98

28.57%

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

$26.6K LKR 8.8M

$25.9K $25.9K

2.59%

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

$35.4K LKR 11.7M

$28.5K $28.5K

24.26%

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

$30.48 LKR 10.1K

$103 $103

-70.32%

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

$4.43 LKR 1,469

$19.19 $19.19

-76.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.87 LKR 4,932

$42.32 $42.32

-64.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.58 LKR 4,501

$24.70 $24.70

-45.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.12 LKR 3,354

Cinema Ticket

$2.48 LKR 823

$5.11 $5.11

-51.47%

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

$36.75 LKR 12.2K

$147 $147

-74.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$441 LKR 146.4K

$6,045 $6,045

-92.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.50 LKR 6,466

$67.0 $67.0

-70.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.18 LKR 6,360

$43.92 $43.92

-56.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.26 LKR 16.0K

$114 $114

-57.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.40 LKR 8,752

$106 $106

-75.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$786 $786

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$606 $606

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,210 $1,210

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$913 $913

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$178 LKR 59.0K

$413 $413

-56.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

8.58

91.72%

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

Last update for Negombo: June 1, 2026

Last update for Santa Tecla: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Santa Tecla 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: $18.00 in Negombo vs $35.00 in Santa Tecla for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $248 per month, with Negombo 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

Negombo vs Santa Tecla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Negombo wins on cost – living expenses run 233% lower than in Santa Tecla. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Negombo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Santa Tecla earns 132% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $36.75 in Negombo versus $147 in Santa Tecla. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Negombo – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $35.00 in Santa Tecla. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $413 in Negombo versus $1,375 in Santa Tecla, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Negombo but tight or insufficient in Santa Tecla. The gap between the two cities makes Negombo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Negombo and Santa Tecla 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 Negombo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 233% less than in Santa Tecla. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.