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: $405 in Negombo versus $1,386 in Santa Tecla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $656 in Negombo versus $2,013 in Santa Tecla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $907 in Negombo versus $2,639 in Santa Tecla.

Living in Negombo costs roughly 71% less than in Santa Tecla, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Negombo is 71% below, Santa Tecla is 1% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.34 LKR 1,422

$7.16 $7.16

-39.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.77 LKR 5,500

$43.78 $43.78

-61.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 LKR 2,564

$6.87 $6.87

13.83%

Cappuccino

$1.30 LKR 425

$3.51 $3.51

-62.96%

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

$0.68 LKR 223

$1.15 $1.15

-40.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 LKR 88.9

$0.87 $0.87

-68.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 LKR 721

$1.97 $1.97

11.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 LKR 970

$3.60 $3.60

-17.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 LKR 544

$1.67 $1.67

-0.60%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 173

$2.25 $2.25

-76.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 263

$1.37 $1.37

-41.61%

Eggs

$1.64 LKR 539

$2.27 $2.27

-27.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.20 LKR 4,330

$7.65 $7.65

72.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.28 LKR 1,405

$5.36 $5.36

-20.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.17 LKR 2,023

$10.22 $10.22

-39.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 LKR 590

$3.17 $3.17

-43.22%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 LKR 225

$1.54 $1.54

-55.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 LKR 739

$2.89 $2.89

-22.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 380

$2.91 $2.91

-60.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 LKR 253

$2.43 $2.43

-68.31%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 249

$2.43 $2.43

-68.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 LKR 305

$1.04 $1.04

-10.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 LKR 159

$0.97 $0.97

-49.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.53 LKR 3,456

$3.99 $3.99

163.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.55 LKR 4,446

$12.15 $12.15

11.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 LKR 654

$2.18 $2.18

-8.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 LKR 889

$2.87 $2.87

-5.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 LKR 102

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 136

$6.09 $6.09

-93.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 LKR 113

$2.94 $2.94

-88.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 LKR 294

$19.79 $19.79

-95.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 LKR 333

$1.22 $1.22

-16.39%

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

$30.6K LKR 10.0M

$25.2K $25.2K

21.47%

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

$41.6K LKR 13.7M

$27.4K $27.4K

52.05%

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

$25.89 LKR 8,492

$130 $130

-80.05%

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

$4.22 LKR 1,386

$21.56 $21.56

-80.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.07 LKR 6,911

$43.03 $43.03

-51.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.35 LKR 5,035

$24.54 $24.54

-37.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.07 LKR 2,974

Cinema Ticket

$2.45 LKR 803

$5.10 $5.10

-51.96%

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

$37.90 LKR 12.4K

$164 $164

-76.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$448 LKR 146.9K

$4,762 $4,762

-90.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.19 LKR 3,014

$66.4 $66.4

-86.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.79 LKR 5,509

$46.83 $46.83

-64.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.99 LKR 11.8K

$121 $121

-70.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$24.01 LKR 7,878

$117 $117

-79.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$763 $763

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$586 $586

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,224 $1,224

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$903 $903

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 LKR 60.1K

$414 $414

-55.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

8.5

49.29%

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

Last update for Negombo: September 1, 2026

Last update for Santa Tecla: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Santa Tecla pays 126% 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: $17.00 in Negombo vs $44.00 in Santa Tecla for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $254 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 242% 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 126% 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 $37.90 in Negombo versus $164 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 $17.00 versus $44.00 in Santa Tecla. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $405 in Negombo versus $1,386 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 242% less than in Santa Tecla. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.