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 $485 per month in Sri Lanka vs $2,643 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $780 per month in Sri Lanka vs $3,857 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,075 per month in Sri Lanka vs $5,070 in United States, rent included.

Sri Lanka is roughly 82% cheaper than United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Sri Lanka sits 64% below the global median, while United States is 97% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.37 LKR 1,117

$20.04 $20.04

-83.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.64 LKR 7,839

$76.0 $76.0

-68.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.89 LKR 2,285

$11.42 $11.42

-39.67%

Cappuccino

$2.67 LKR 886

$5.39 $5.39

-50.46%

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

$0.73 LKR 243

$2.55 $2.55

-71.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 LKR 131

$2.04 $2.04

-80.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 769

$6.14 $6.14

-62.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 LKR 1,098

$7.18 $7.18

-53.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 LKR 549

$1.04 $1.04

59.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 LKR 179

$3.65 $3.65

-85.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 LKR 263

$4.73 $4.73

-83.30%

Eggs

$2.18 LKR 723

$4.38 $4.38

-50.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 LKR 4,285

$12.76 $12.76

1.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.98 LKR 1,653

$12.42 $12.42

-59.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.81 LKR 2,589

$16.41 $16.41

-52.41%

Apples (1kg)

$7.26 LKR 2,407

$5.42 $5.42

33.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 LKR 335

$1.65 $1.65

-38.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.74 LKR 1,905

$4.59 $4.59

25.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 LKR 443

$4.91 $4.91

-72.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.09 LKR 360

$2.92 $2.92

-62.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 LKR 387

$3.13 $3.13

-62.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 LKR 387

$2.26 $2.26

-48.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 LKR 180

$2.30 $2.30

-76.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.00 LKR 3,316

$9.89 $9.89

1.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.92 LKR 3,953

$15.10 $15.10

-21.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 LKR 687

$1.91 $1.91

8.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 LKR 966

$3.66 $3.66

-20.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 LKR 72.8

$2.48 $2.48

-91.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.89 LKR 1,621

$64.8 $64.8

-92.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 136

$3.84 $3.84

-89.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 118

$1.76 $1.76

-79.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 LKR 169

$30.58 $30.58

-98.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 LKR 433

$0.96 $0.96

36.46%

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

$26.7K LKR 8.8M

$30.5K $30.5K

-12.46%

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

$38.7K LKR 12.8M

$26.4K $26.4K

46.83%

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

$46.85 LKR 15.5K

$204 $204

-77.05%

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

$4.48 LKR 1,486

$57.3 $57.3

-92.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.57 LKR 5,162

$71.2 $71.2

-78.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.73 LKR 4,222

$46.67 $46.67

-72.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.18 LKR 2,051

$22.12 $22.12

-72.06%

Cinema Ticket

$3.37 LKR 1,117

$13.84 $13.84

-75.65%

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

$36.68 LKR 12.2K

$1,384 $1,384

-97.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$440 LKR 146.0K

$22.7K $22.7K

-98.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.34 LKR 9,066

$53.0 $53.0

-48.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.01 LKR 6,304

$43.17 $43.17

-55.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.1 LKR 21.6K

$90.6 $90.6

-28.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.62 LKR 12.1K

$114 $114

-67.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$269 LKR 89.1K

$1,766 $1,766

-84.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$139 LKR 46.0K

$1,459 $1,459

-90.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$622 LKR 206.1K

$2,832 $2,832

-78.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 LKR 90.1K

$2,411 $2,411

-88.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,686 LKR 1.2M

$3,287 $3,287

12.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,132 LKR 375.5K

$2,650 $2,650

-57.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$212 LKR 70.1K

$4,379 $4,379

-95.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.21

6.51

149.00%

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

Last update for Sri Lanka: June 1, 2026

Last update for United States: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $55.0 in Sri Lanka vs $1,637 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $335 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and $2,591 in Washington, DC.

Average salary: $193 in Sri Lanka vs $4,500 in United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 2876% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 284% more in United States.

Public transport is 2400% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 2232% higher in United States, giving United States stronger purchasing power.

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 775% 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 775% 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.