🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $522 in Polonnaruwa versus $733 in Colombo.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $863 in Polonnaruwa versus $1,166 in Colombo.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,204 in Polonnaruwa versus $1,598 in Colombo.
🙂Living in Polonnaruwa costs roughly 29% less than in Colombo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Polonnaruwa61% lower, Colombo45% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Polonnaruwa
Colombo
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.95LKR 1,259
$4.08LKR 1,301
-3.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.04LKR 7,979
$24.75LKR 7,886
1.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.26LKR 2,633
$8.12LKR 2,589
1.72%
Cappuccino
$2.62LKR 833
$2.74LKR 873
-4.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68LKR 216
$0.68LKR 216
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37LKR 118
$0.40LKR 128
-7.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.29LKR 730
$2.28LKR 725
0.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30LKR 1,052
$3.28LKR 1,046
0.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Polonnaruwa
Colombo
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72LKR 547
$1.75LKR 559
-1.71%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56LKR 178
$0.56LKR 180
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.81LKR 257
$0.82LKR 260
-1.22%
Eggs
$2.18LKR 696
$2.12LKR 677
2.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.95LKR 4,444
$14.20LKR 4,525
-1.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.53LKR 1,445
$4.69LKR 1,495
-3.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.83LKR 2,495
$7.89LKR 2,513
-0.76%
Apples(1kg)
$7.55LKR 2,405
$7.39LKR 2,353
2.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08LKR 343
$1.06LKR 338
1.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.95LKR 1,895
$5.68LKR 1,810
4.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.24LKR 396
$1.22LKR 389
1.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14LKR 364
$1.16LKR 369
-1.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36LKR 432
$1.40LKR 447
-2.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16LKR 370
$1.18LKR 377
-1.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60LKR 192
$0.57LKR 182
5.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.98LKR 3,180
$9.90LKR 3,156
0.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.50LKR 3,984
$12.46LKR 3,970
0.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06LKR 657
$2.04LKR 648
0.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85LKR 908
$2.83LKR 903
0.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Polonnaruwa
Colombo
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.18LKR 58.6
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$5.09LKR 1,621
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.39LKR 124
$0.39LKR 123
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33LKR 104
$0.35LKR 112
-5.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.60LKR 192
$0.62LKR 197
-3.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24LKR 395
$1.19LKR 380
4.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9KLKR 8.6M
$27.3KLKR 8.7M
-1.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.2KLKR 11.2M
$34.2KLKR 10.9M
2.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Polonnaruwa
Colombo
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.5LKR 19.0K
$60.9LKR 19.4K
-2.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.42LKR 1,408
$4.38LKR 1,397
0.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.08LKR 4,804
$15.01LKR 4,783
0.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Polonnaruwa
Colombo
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$14.68LKR 4,678
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$7.46LKR 2,376
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.38LKR 1,077
$3.44LKR 1,095
-1.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Polonnaruwa
Colombo
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$36.48LKR 11.6K
$37.27LKR 11.9K
-2.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$436LKR 138.8K
$433LKR 137.9K
0.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Polonnaruwa
Colombo
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.88LKR 8,884
$28.07LKR 8,943
-0.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.48LKR 6,208
$19.31LKR 6,152
0.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.7LKR 21.9K
$70.5LKR 22.5K
-2.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.46LKR 12.3K
$38.98LKR 12.4K
-1.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Polonnaruwa
Colombo
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$368LKR 117.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$179LKR 57.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$970LKR 309.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$364LKR 115.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,591LKR 1.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,225LKR 390.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Polonnaruwa
Colombo
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$241LKR 76.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.45
16.45
-
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Polonnaruwa: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Colombo: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in Polonnaruwa vs $25.00 in Colombo. Groceries flip the comparison at $256 vs $255, with Colombo cheaper for home cooking.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Polonnaruwa vs Colombo: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Polonnaruwa or Colombo?
Polonnaruwa wins on cost – living expenses run 40% lower than in Colombo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Polonnaruwa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Polonnaruwa vs Colombo?
You'd need roughly $783 in Polonnaruwa 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.
How do childcare costs compare in Polonnaruwa and Colombo?
Childcare runs $36.48 in Polonnaruwa versus $37.27 in Colombo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Polonnaruwa vs Colombo?
Dining out is cheaper in Polonnaruwa – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $25.00 in Colombo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Polonnaruwa or Colombo?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Polonnaruwa gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Polonnaruwa or Colombo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Polonnaruwa delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $522 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Polonnaruwa hard to pass up.
How safe is Polonnaruwa compared to Colombo?
Safety-wise, Polonnaruwa 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Polonnaruwa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Polonnaruwa vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado