Cost of Living Comparison Between Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and Colombo Cost of Living Comparison Between Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and Colombo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $734 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte versus $717 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,153 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte versus $1,166 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,572 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte versus $1,615 in Colombo.

Living in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is roughly 2% more expensive than Colombo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 45% lower, Colombo 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.12 LKR 1,368

$4.13 LKR 1,369

-0.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.76 LKR 8,211

$25.16 LKR 8,344

-1.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.48 LKR 2,811

$8.20 LKR 2,719

3.41%

Cappuccino

$2.67 LKR 884

$2.66 LKR 882

0.38%

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

$0.75 LKR 247

$0.68 LKR 224

10.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 125

$0.41 LKR 135

-7.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 LKR 757

$2.39 LKR 793

-4.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 LKR 1,092

$3.43 LKR 1,136

-4.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 LKR 497

$1.73 LKR 574

-13.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 175

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 LKR 283

$0.83 LKR 274

2.41%

Eggs

$2.13 LKR 705

$2.23 LKR 739

-4.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.28 LKR 3,410

$14.02 LKR 4,648

-26.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.55 LKR 1,507

$4.65 LKR 1,543

-2.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.85 LKR 1,940

$8.01 LKR 2,657

-26.97%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 LKR 2,046

$7.37 LKR 2,444

-16.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 367

$1.12 LKR 371

-0.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.71 LKR 1,894

$5.83 LKR 1,934

-2.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 415

$1.25 LKR 414

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 LKR 334

$1.14 LKR 379

-11.40%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 LKR 309

$1.42 LKR 470

-34.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 LKR 379

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 LKR 166

$0.59 LKR 196

-15.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.46 LKR 2,805

$10.01 LKR 3,321

-15.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.57 LKR 4,167

$12.73 LKR 4,220

-1.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 LKR 486

$2.11 LKR 699

-30.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 LKR 600

$2.97 LKR 985

-39.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 LKR 105

$0.14 LKR 48.01

128.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.23 LKR 3,392

$5.09 LKR 1,687

100.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.34 LKR 114

$0.38 LKR 128

-10.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 117

$0.33 LKR 109

6.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 LKR 145

$0.60 LKR 199

-26.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 LKR 419

$1.26 LKR 416

0.79%

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

$27.2K LKR 9.0M

$26.8K LKR 8.9M

1.66%

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

$34.4K LKR 11.4M

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

-2.22%

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

$30.64 LKR 10.2K

$60.5 LKR 20.1K

-49.36%

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

$4.22 LKR 1,399

$4.27 LKR 1,416

-1.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.91 LKR 4,943

$15.34 LKR 5,086

-2.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.06 LKR 6,984

$14.79 LKR 4,903

42.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.11 LKR 2,358

Cinema Ticket

$3.42 LKR 1,135

$3.28 LKR 1,086

4.27%

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

$36.74 LKR 12.2K

$37.28 LKR 12.4K

-1.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$433 LKR 143.6K

$444 LKR 147.1K

-2.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.02 LKR 9,290

$27.15 LKR 9,002

3.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.05 LKR 6,317

$19.13 LKR 6,344

-0.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.0 LKR 22.9K

$70.7 LKR 23.4K

-2.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.31 LKR 12.7K

$38.24 LKR 12.7K

0.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$335 LKR 111.0K

$379 LKR 125.7K

-11.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$254 LKR 84.1K

$178 LKR 59.0K

42.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$512 LKR 169.8K

$937 LKR 310.7K

-45.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$418 LKR 138.5K

$361 LKR 119.6K

15.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$686 LKR 227.4K

$3,724 LKR 1.2M

-81.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$528 LKR 175.1K

$1,189 LKR 394.1K

-55.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$303 LKR 100.3K

$247 LKR 82.1K

22.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

-8.81%

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

Last update for Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte: June 1, 2026

Last update for Colombo: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $335 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and $379 in Colombo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte pays 22% 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: $25.00 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte vs $25.00 in Colombo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $221 vs $257 per month, with Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 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

Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte vs Colombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Colombo wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Colombo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte pays 22% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $335 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte versus $379 in Colombo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte pay roughly 16% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Colombo – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $25.00 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Colombo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Colombo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $717 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Colombo hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 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.

Expats usually find Colombo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.