Cost of Living Comparison Between Ragama and Colombo Cost of Living Comparison Between Ragama and Colombo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $515 in Ragama versus $789 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $835 in Ragama versus $1,200 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,154 in Ragama versus $1,610 in Colombo.

Living in Ragama costs roughly 35% less than in Colombo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ragama 63% lower, Colombo 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 LKR 1,448

$4.38 LKR 1,440

0.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.20 LKR 8,610

$25.76 LKR 8,464

1.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.64 LKR 2,509

$7.60 LKR 2,499

0.53%

Cappuccino

$2.54 LKR 834

$2.45 LKR 804

3.67%

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

$0.69 LKR 226

$0.74 LKR 243

-6.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 LKR 88.7

$0.25 LKR 81.4

8.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 LKR 740

$2.24 LKR 737

0.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 LKR 1,026

$2.98 LKR 979

4.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 LKR 468

$1.58 LKR 520

-9.49%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 LKR 166

$0.52 LKR 172

-1.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.69 LKR 226

$0.81 LKR 267

-14.81%

Eggs

$1.66 LKR 546

$1.64 LKR 539

1.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.16 LKR 4,324

$13.18 LKR 4,332

-0.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.94 LKR 1,622

$5.06 LKR 1,663

-2.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.23 LKR 2,376

$7.14 LKR 2,347

1.26%

Apples (1kg)

$6.71 LKR 2,206

$6.69 LKR 2,198

0.30%

Banana (1kg)

$0.89 LKR 294

$0.88 LKR 288

1.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 LKR 1,420

$4.35 LKR 1,429

-0.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 408

$1.29 LKR 425

-3.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 LKR 343

$1.00 LKR 330

4.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 262

$0.80 LKR 263

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 LKR 290

$0.94 LKR 310

-6.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 LKR 151

$0.49 LKR 162

-6.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.46 LKR 3,435

$10.36 LKR 3,403

0.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.56 LKR 4,457

$13.67 LKR 4,492

-0.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 LKR 656

$1.96 LKR 646

2.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 LKR 909

$2.89 LKR 948

-4.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 LKR 57.2

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.29 LKR 2,397

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 128

$0.39 LKR 127

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 LKR 127

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 LKR 303

$0.95 LKR 312

-3.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 LKR 443

$1.34 LKR 439

0.75%

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

$30.0K LKR 9.8M

$30.0K LKR 9.9M

-0.15%

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

$41.7K LKR 13.7M

$42.5K LKR 14.0M

-2.01%

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

$54.4 LKR 17.9K

$55.4 LKR 18.2K

-1.79%

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

$4.16 LKR 1,366

$4.06 LKR 1,333

2.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.62 LKR 6,776

$20.56 LKR 6,755

0.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.69 LKR 4,827

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.92 LKR 1,947

Cinema Ticket

$4.49 LKR 1,477

$4.43 LKR 1,456

1.35%

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

$38.72 LKR 12.7K

$38.87 LKR 12.8K

-0.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,242 LKR 408.2K

$1,212 LKR 398.2K

2.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.02 LKR 6,577

$20.17 LKR 6,626

-0.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.51 LKR 5,424

$16.47 LKR 5,411

0.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.6 LKR 26.1K

$80.9 LKR 26.6K

-1.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.71 LKR 13.7K

$43.13 LKR 14.2K

-3.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$554 LKR 182.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$251 LKR 82.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 LKR 519.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$410 LKR 134.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,725 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 LKR 397.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$252 LKR 82.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

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

Last update for Ragama: September 7, 2026

Last update for Colombo: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $26.00 in Ragama vs $26.00 in Colombo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $237 per month, with Ragama 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

Ragama vs Colombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ragama wins on cost – living expenses run 53% lower than in Colombo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ragama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $773 in Ragama and $1,184 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 $38.72 in Ragama versus $38.87 in Colombo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ragama – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $26.00 in Colombo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $515 in Ragama versus $789 in Colombo, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ragama but tight or insufficient in Colombo. The gap between the two cities makes Ragama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ragama delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $515 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ragama hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Ragama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.