Cost of Living Comparison Between Sri Lanka and China Cost of Living Comparison Between Sri Lanka and China

🙂 Solo nomad: Sri Lanka is 2.9% cheaper than China without rent, and 19.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Sri Lanka is 4.4% cheaper than China without rent, and 19.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sri Lanka
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.3 LKR 987
$2.85 ¥20.46
15.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.6 LKR 7,051
$23.97 ¥172
-1.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.85 LKR 2,048
$4.96 ¥35.61
38.10%
Cappuccino
$2.68 LKR 801
$3.13 ¥22.47
-14.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 LKR 203
$0.44 ¥3.18
54.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 LKR 118
$0.29 ¥2.1
34.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.31 LKR 690
$0.95 ¥6.83
143.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 LKR 1,008
$2.14 ¥15.32
57.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sri Lanka
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 LKR 497
$1.85 ¥13.23
-9.73%
White Bread (500g)
$0.58 LKR 173
$1.68 ¥12.06
-65.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.85 LKR 253
$0.95 ¥6.81
-10.53%
Eggs
$2.14 LKR 641
$1.55 ¥11.11
38.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.07 LKR 3,905
$13.25 ¥95.1
-1.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.93 LKR 1,473
$3.28 ¥23.52
50.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.96 LKR 2,377
$10.85 ¥77.8
-26.64%
Apples (1kg)
$6.93 LKR 2,070
$1.77 ¥12.66
291.53%
Banana (1kg)
$0.98 LKR 292
$1.26 ¥9.01
-22.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.58 LKR 1,667
$1.5 ¥10.73
272.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 LKR 409
$1.19 ¥8.5
15.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 LKR 339
$0.75 ¥5.4
50.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 LKR 348
$0.86 ¥6.15
36.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 LKR 339
$0.61 ¥4.37
86.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 LKR 163
$0.58 ¥4.14
-5.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.97 LKR 2,978
$3.45 ¥24.74
188.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.23 LKR 3,952
$11.3 ¥81.1
17.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 LKR 643
$0.84 ¥6
155.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 LKR 847
$1.68 ¥12.05
68.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Sri Lanka
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 LKR 65.5
$0.4 ¥2.86
-45.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.89 LKR 1,462
$20.83 ¥149
-76.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.41 LKR 123
$1.36 ¥9.74
-69.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.36 LKR 107
$0.35 ¥2.55
2.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 LKR 145
$6.8 ¥48.75
-92.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 LKR 391
$1.12 ¥8.05
16.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K LKR 8M
$19.2K ¥137.7K
39.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.6K LKR 11.2M
$16.7K ¥119.8K
125.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sri Lanka
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.59 LKR 13.9K
$51.4 ¥369
-9.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.42 LKR 1,322
$9.77 ¥70.1
-54.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.43 LKR 4,611
$11.34 ¥81.3
36.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sri Lanka
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.02 LKR 3,889
$39.55 ¥284
-67.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.96 LKR 1,781
$14.89 ¥107
-59.97%
Cinema Ticket
$3.29 LKR 983
$6.23 ¥44.71
-47.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sri Lanka
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$36.95 LKR 11K
$417 ¥2,989
-91.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$445 LKR 132.9K
$17.7K ¥126.8K
-97.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sri Lanka
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.77 LKR 8,297
$45.65 ¥327
-39.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.1 LKR 5,706
$33.49 ¥240
-42.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.2 LKR 19.2K
$71.8 ¥515
-10.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$37.47 LKR 11.2K
$72.9 ¥523
-48.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sri Lanka
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$269 LKR 80.4K
$445 ¥3,194
-39.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$138 LKR 41.3K
$255 ¥1,830
-45.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 LKR 183.2K
$915 ¥6,566
-33.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$265 LKR 79.1K
$543 ¥3,895
-51.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,767 LKR 527.9K
$6,142 ¥44.1K
-71.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,047 LKR 312.7K
$2,860 ¥20.5K
-63.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sri Lanka
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$216 LKR 64.5K
$942 ¥6,755
-77.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.21
4.06
299.26%

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

Last update for Sri Lanka: October 29, 2025

Last update for China: October 29, 2025

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