Cost of Living Comparison Between Sri Lanka and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Sri Lanka and United States

Name: United States
Address: US

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $465 per month in Sri Lanka vs $2,626 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $736 per month in Sri Lanka vs $3,830 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,007 per month in Sri Lanka vs $5,033 in United States, rent included.

The cost of living in Sri Lanka is roughly 82% lower than in United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Sri Lanka sits 66% below the global median, while United States is 90% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.92 LKR 959

$19.83 $19.83

-85.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 LKR 6,442

$78.8 $78.8

-75.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.72 LKR 2,538

$12.19 $12.19

-36.67%

Cappuccino

$2.42 LKR 794

$5.59 $5.59

-56.71%

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

$0.66 LKR 217

$2.78 $2.78

-76.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 LKR 103

$2.18 $2.18

-85.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 762

$5.86 $5.86

-60.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 LKR 995

$8.02 $8.02

-62.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 LKR 523

$1.07 $1.07

48.60%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 LKR 164

$3.68 $3.68

-86.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 249

$4.66 $4.66

-83.69%

Eggs

$1.68 LKR 552

$4.20 $4.20

-60.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.63 LKR 3,822

$12.78 $12.78

-9.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 LKR 1,415

$12.40 $12.40

-65.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.97 LKR 2,289

$16.90 $16.90

-58.76%

Apples (1kg)

$5.77 LKR 1,897

$5.23 $5.23

10.33%

Banana (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 263

$1.66 $1.66

-51.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.07 LKR 1,339

$4.33 $4.33

-6.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 LKR 397

$4.96 $4.96

-75.60%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 LKR 319

$2.82 $2.82

-65.60%

Onion (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 270

$3.11 $3.11

-73.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 LKR 260

$2.19 $2.19

-63.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 LKR 150

$2.26 $2.26

-79.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.31 LKR 3,388

$10.35 $10.35

-0.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.18 LKR 4,001

$14.81 $14.81

-17.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 LKR 640

$2.09 $2.09

-6.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 LKR 871

$3.65 $3.65

-27.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 LKR 53.1

$2.38 $2.38

-93.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.16 LKR 2,024

$64.5 $64.5

-90.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 LKR 145

$3.54 $3.54

-87.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 116

$1.86 $1.86

-81.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 LKR 307

$30.34 $30.34

-96.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 397

$1.00 $1.00

21.00%

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

$30.6K LKR 10.1M

$35.5K $35.5K

-13.85%

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

$39.8K LKR 13.1M

$25.9K $25.9K

54.05%

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

$48.47 LKR 15.9K

$222 $222

-78.19%

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

$4.20 LKR 1,380

$61.1 $61.1

-93.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.40 LKR 5,389

$74.7 $74.7

-78.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.28 LKR 4,365

$44.49 $44.49

-70.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.27 LKR 2,061

$22.35 $22.35

-71.95%

Cinema Ticket

$3.60 LKR 1,182

$15.03 $15.03

-76.05%

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

$35.76 LKR 11.8K

$1,431 $1,431

-97.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$579 LKR 190.4K

$25.9K $25.9K

-97.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.60 LKR 6,769

$53.6 $53.6

-61.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.48 LKR 5,088

$43.46 $43.46

-64.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.7 LKR 23.9K

$91.5 $91.5

-20.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.50 LKR 12.7K

$114 $114

-66.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$299 LKR 98.4K

$1,633 $1,633

-81.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 LKR 45.4K

$1,328 $1,328

-89.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$787 LKR 258.5K

$2,606 $2,606

-69.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 LKR 74.4K

$2,206 $2,206

-89.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,647 LKR 1.2M

$3,323 $3,323

9.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,115 LKR 366.3K

$2,653 $2,653

-57.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$215 LKR 70.7K

$4,306 $4,306

-95.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.46

6.21

116.75%

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

Last update for Sri Lanka: September 6, 2026

Last update for United States: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $57.0 in Sri Lanka vs $1,604 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $299 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and $1,360 in Columbia, TN.

Average salary: $204 in Sri Lanka vs $4,526 in United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 2714% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 257% more in United States.

Public transport is 2600% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 2119% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sri Lanka is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 696% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Sri Lanka, contributing to the overall 696% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Sri Lanka, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Sri Lanka is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.