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: $417 in Negombo versus $1,360 in Santa Tecla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $688 in Negombo versus $1,954 in Santa Tecla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $958 in Negombo versus $2,548 in Santa Tecla.

Living in Negombo costs roughly 69% less than in Santa Tecla, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Negombo is 69% below, Santa Tecla is 2% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.04 LKR 1,356

$7.79 $7.79

-48.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.34 LKR 6,163

$35.49 $35.49

-48.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.18 LKR 2,749

$6.86 $6.86

19.24%

Cappuccino

$1.36 LKR 457

$3.32 $3.32

-59.04%

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

$0.68 LKR 229

$1.10 $1.10

-38.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 LKR 125

$0.87 $0.87

-57.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 LKR 658

$1.95 $1.95

0.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 LKR 1,118

$3.03 $3.03

9.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 LKR 520

$1.74 $1.74

-10.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 LKR 164

$1.99 $1.99

-75.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 LKR 288

$1.48 $1.48

-41.89%

Eggs

$2.21 LKR 742

$2.39 $2.39

-7.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.31 LKR 4,809

$7.22 $7.22

98.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 LKR 1,548

$5.44 $5.44

-15.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.58 LKR 1,875

$10.73 $10.73

-48.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.02 LKR 680

$3.23 $3.23

-37.46%

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 LKR 257

$1.73 $1.73

-55.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.44 LKR 819

$2.50 $2.50

-2.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 LKR 408

$2.75 $2.75

-56.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.86 LKR 289

$2.15 $2.15

-60.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 LKR 318

$2.13 $2.13

-55.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 LKR 344

$1.01 $1.01

1.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 LKR 204

$1.07 $1.07

-42.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.64 LKR 2,903

$3.94 $3.94

119.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.87 LKR 4,324

$11.81 $11.81

8.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 LKR 693

$1.70 $1.70

21.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 LKR 993

$2.42 $2.42

22.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 LKR 106

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 131

$5.66 $5.66

-93.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 112

$3.11 $3.11

-89.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 203

$20.26 $20.26

-97.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 406

$0.97 $0.97

24.74%

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

$27.1K LKR 9.1M

$25.1K $25.1K

7.89%

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

$34.4K LKR 11.6M

$28.7K $28.7K

20.04%

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

$30.72 LKR 10.3K

$103 $103

-70.16%

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

$4.31 LKR 1,448

$19.23 $19.23

-77.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.95 LKR 5,024

$41.11 $41.11

-63.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.13 LKR 4,412

$25.38 $25.38

-48.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.88 LKR 3,320

Cinema Ticket

$2.49 LKR 837

$5.16 $5.16

-51.74%

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

$36.96 LKR 12.4K

$147 $147

-74.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$442 LKR 148.5K

$5,937 $5,937

-92.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.56 LKR 6,573

$67.4 $67.4

-70.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.18 LKR 6,445

$43.73 $43.73

-56.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.46 LKR 16.3K

$116 $116

-58.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.21 LKR 9,142

$104 $104

-73.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 $801

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$591 $591

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,181 $1,181

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 $899

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 LKR 59.5K

$407 $407

-56.49%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Santa Tecla: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Santa Tecla pays 130% 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 $204 vs $249 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 226% 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, salaries run 130% lower in Santa Tecla. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $36.96 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 $417 in Negombo versus $1,360 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 226% less than in Santa Tecla. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.