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: $754 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte versus $718 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,171 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte versus $1,153 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,588 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte versus $1,588 in Colombo.

Living in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is roughly 5% more expensive than in Colombo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 44% lower, Colombo 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.00 LKR 1,345

$4.07 LKR 1,366

-1.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.03 LKR 8,409

$25.28 LKR 8,492

-0.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.14 LKR 2,736

$8.60 LKR 2,891

-5.35%

Cappuccino

$2.71 LKR 910

$2.71 LKR 909

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

$0.74 LKR 250

$0.69 LKR 232

7.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 127

$0.40 LKR 136

-5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 LKR 809

$2.27 LKR 764

6.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 LKR 1,138

$3.27 LKR 1,099

3.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 LKR 499

$1.70 LKR 571

-12.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 177

$0.55 LKR 185

-3.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 LKR 289

$0.88 LKR 295

-2.27%

Eggs

$2.11 LKR 709

$2.14 LKR 721

-1.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.41 LKR 3,496

$13.88 LKR 4,662

-25.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 LKR 1,540

$4.78 LKR 1,606

-4.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.87 LKR 1,972

$8.09 LKR 2,717

-27.44%

Apples (1kg)

$6.42 LKR 2,156

$7.65 LKR 2,570

-16.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 372

$1.07 LKR 359

3.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 LKR 1,950

$5.84 LKR 1,963

-0.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 LKR 401

$1.25 LKR 421

-4.80%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 LKR 319

$1.14 LKR 384

-16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.91 LKR 304

$1.36 LKR 458

-33.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 LKR 400

$1.20 LKR 403

-0.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 LKR 178

$0.56 LKR 190

-5.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.59 LKR 2,885

$9.99 LKR 3,358

-14.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.53 LKR 4,211

$12.70 LKR 4,266

-1.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 LKR 511

$2.09 LKR 702

-27.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 LKR 601

$2.90 LKR 974

-38.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 LKR 115

$0.16 LKR 54.7

112.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.23 LKR 3,438

$4.93 LKR 1,657

107.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.32 LKR 106

$0.38 LKR 129

-15.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 LKR 109

$0.35 LKR 119

-8.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 LKR 156

$0.62 LKR 207

-24.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 406

$1.19 LKR 401

1.68%

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

$26.7K LKR 9.0M

$27.2K LKR 9.1M

-1.85%

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

$34.5K LKR 11.6M

$34.3K LKR 11.5M

0.81%

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

$30.12 LKR 10.1K

$59.6 LKR 20.0K

-49.46%

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

$4.42 LKR 1,486

$4.30 LKR 1,444

2.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.96 LKR 5,027

$15.37 LKR 5,165

-2.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.63 LKR 6,932

$14.83 LKR 4,984

39.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.39 LKR 2,484

Cinema Ticket

$3.33 LKR 1,119

$3.28 LKR 1,103

1.52%

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

$37.30 LKR 12.5K

$36.45 LKR 12.2K

2.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$436 LKR 146.5K

$442 LKR 148.5K

-1.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.06 LKR 9,092

$27.73 LKR 9,318

-2.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.44 LKR 6,532

$19.12 LKR 6,425

1.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.9 LKR 23.2K

$69.2 LKR 23.2K

-0.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.41 LKR 12.9K

$39.30 LKR 13.2K

-2.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$341 LKR 114.6K

$368 LKR 123.6K

-7.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$254 LKR 85.3K

$173 LKR 58.0K

47.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$501 LKR 168.3K

$971 LKR 326.1K

-48.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$424 LKR 142.5K

$369 LKR 123.9K

14.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$671 LKR 225.4K

$3,586 LKR 1.2M

-81.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$512 LKR 172.0K

$1,156 LKR 388.5K

-55.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$303 LKR 101.8K

$251 LKR 84.2K

20.87%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Colombo: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $341 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and $368 in Colombo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte pays 21% 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 $224 vs $258 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 5% 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.

Average pay runs 21% higher in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, 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: $341 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte versus $368 in Colombo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte pay roughly 15% 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 $718 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 5% less than in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.