Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sri Lanka and Pakistan

Name: Pakistan
Address: PK

For one person, living is cheaper in Pakistan: $483 a month against $621 in Sri Lanka, rent and utilities included – about $1,700 less a year. The total is higher in Sri Lanka despite lower rent and utilities.

30

Cost of Living Index in Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka Living Index
23

Cost of Living Index in Pakistan
Learn more

Pakistan Living Index

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🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

$621

/mo nomad

🇵🇰 Pakistan

$483

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sri Lanka and in Pakistan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sri Lanka and in Pakistan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $621 in Sri Lanka versus $483 in Pakistan.

Sri Lanka $621
Pakistan $483

Estimated couple costs with rent: $984 in Sri Lanka versus $736 in Pakistan.

Sri Lanka $984
Pakistan $736

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,346 in Sri Lanka versus $988 in Pakistan.

Sri Lanka $1,346
Pakistan $988

Internal cost variation is higher in Sri Lanka: monthly costs span $63 to $804, compared to $291–$607 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Sri Lanka.

Living in Sri Lanka is roughly 29% more expensive than in Pakistan on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Sri Lanka 54% lower, Pakistan 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.88 LKR 957

$2.11 PKR 582

36.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 LKR 6,568

$13.97 PKR 3,864

41.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.37 LKR 2,451

$5.50 PKR 1,522

34.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 PKR 615

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.31 PKR 1,193

Cappuccino

$2.38 LKR 793

$1.97 PKR 545

20.81%

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

$0.60 LKR 199

$0.38 PKR 105

57.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 LKR 91.9

$0.23 PKR 63.6

21.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.18 LKR 724

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 LKR 1,015

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 LKR 534

$0.87 PKR 239

85.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 LKR 170

$0.60 PKR 165

-15.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.75 LKR 251

$1.21 PKR 334

-38.02%

Eggs

$1.69 LKR 563

$1.21 PKR 334

39.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.82 LKR 3,930

$5.42 PKR 1,500

118.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 LKR 1,394

$2.83 PKR 782

48.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.08 LKR 2,354

$5.06 PKR 1,400

39.92%

Apples (1kg)

$5.59 LKR 1,857

$1.20 PKR 331

365.83%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 268

$0.64 PKR 176

26.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.05 LKR 1,348

$0.87 PKR 241

365.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.28 LKR 427

$0.54 PKR 148

137.04%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 294

$0.33 PKR 91.8

166.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 LKR 261

$0.39 PKR 108

100.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 LKR 258

$0.37 PKR 104

108.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 LKR 147

$0.41 PKR 113

7.32%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.08 PKR 575

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 PKR 296

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 PKR 652

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.01 LKR 3,327

$2.14 PKR 593

367.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.00 LKR 3,988

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 LKR 645

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 LKR 889

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 LKR 48.56

$0.20 PKR 55.0

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.24 LKR 2,075

$10.01 PKR 2,767

-37.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.43 LKR 145

$0.88 PKR 243

-51.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 LKR 125

$0.56 PKR 155

-32.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 LKR 304

$2.22 PKR 613

-58.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 LKR 410

$1.29 PKR 357

-4.65%

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

$44.4K LKR 14.7M

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

149.54%

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

$40.1K LKR 13.3M

$24.3K PKR 6.7M

64.55%

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

$47.47 LKR 15.8K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-56.96%

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

$4.09 LKR 1,360

$5.41 PKR 1,495

-24.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.72 LKR 5,558

$15.79 PKR 4,367

5.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.59 LKR 4,520

$18.50 PKR 5,117

-26.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.16 LKR 2,047

$11.09 PKR 3,066

-44.45%

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 LKR 1,427

$4.32 PKR 1,194

-0.69%

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

$34.82 LKR 11.6K

$56.4 PKR 15.6K

-38.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$557 LKR 185.2K

$1,511 PKR 418.0K

-63.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.77 LKR 6,905

$17.56 PKR 4,857

18.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.85 LKR 4,938

$23.58 PKR 6,521

-37.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.5 LKR 23.4K

$76.7 PKR 21.2K

-8.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.79 LKR 11.9K

$35.08 PKR 9,702

2.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$322 LKR 106.9K

$150 PKR 41.5K

114.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$148 LKR 49.1K

$87.4 PKR 24.2K

69.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,007 LKR 334.7K

$320 PKR 88.6K

214.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$290 LKR 96.4K

$190 PKR 52.5K

52.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,647 LKR 1.2M

$970 PKR 268.4K

275.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,106 LKR 367.7K

$520 PKR 144.0K

112.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$215 LKR 71.3K

$192 PKR 53.1K

11.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.46

14.1

-4.54%

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

Last update for Sri Lanka: October 27, 2026

Last update for Pakistan: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Sri Lanka

$216 34.7%

Pakistan

$94 19.5% 56.4% $122

Accommodation & Living

Sri Lanka

$148 23.8%

Pakistan

$87 18.1% 40.8% $60

Eating Out

Sri Lanka

$94 15.2%

Pakistan

$59 12.3% 36.9% $35

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Sri Lanka

$68 11%

Pakistan

$131 27.2% 92.6% $63

Clothing & Footwear

Sri Lanka

$64 10.3%

Pakistan

$69 14.3% 7.7% $4.9

Sport & Entertainment

Sri Lanka

$22 3.6%

Pakistan

$27 5.6% 22.4% $5

Getting Around

Sri Lanka

$9.1 1.5%

Pakistan

$14 3% 58.4% $5.3

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $196 in Sri Lanka, $137 in Pakistan. Capital cities: $300 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte vs $261 in Islamabad.

National salary averages: $202 in Sri Lanka, $185 in Pakistan. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 43% higher in Sri Lanka.

Dining out costs 77% more in Sri Lanka.

Public transport is 100% more expensive in Pakistan.

Good to know

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

🇵🇰 Pakistan

🕒 Local time

00:30 12:30 AM

00:00 12:00 AM

30 min behind Sri Lanka

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

21,444,000

223,773,700

💱 Currency

Sri Lankan Rupee LKR Rs

Pakistani Rupee PKR ₨

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD

1,000 LKR = 2.7 EUR

1,000 PKR = 3.62 USD

1,000 PKR = 3.24 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PKR, USD, EUR to LKR – Sri Lankan Rupee Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇱🇰 Sri Lankan Rupee (Rs)

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 332 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD). 1 EUR = 371 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.7 EUR).

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.62 USD). 1 EUR = 309 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.24 EUR).

USD to LKR in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Sri Lanka Pakistan 3,060 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Sri Lanka
Pakistan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Lanka vs Pakistan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $483 per month in Pakistan and $621 in Sri Lanka, Pakistan comes out about 22% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $196 in Sri Lanka and $137 in Pakistan. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.

It depends on what you’re after: Pakistan wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.