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

😐 Solo nomad: United States is 147.3% more expensive than Sri Lanka without rent, and 339.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: United States is 145.3% more expensive than Sri Lanka without rent, and 280.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Sri Lanka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.33 $20.33
$3.3 LKR 987
516.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.4 $74.4
$23.6 LKR 7,051
215.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.49 $11.49
$6.85 LKR 2,048
67.74%
Cappuccino
$5.09 $5.09
$2.68 LKR 801
89.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$0.68 LKR 203
273.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$0.39 LKR 118
441.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.09 $6.09
$2.31 LKR 690
163.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.1 $7.1
$3.37 LKR 1,008
110.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Sri Lanka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.67 LKR 497
-35.33%
White Bread (500g)
$3.7 $3.7
$0.58 LKR 173
537.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.65 $4.65
$0.85 LKR 253
447.06%
Eggs
$4.21 $4.21
$2.14 LKR 641
96.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.75 $12.75
$13.07 LKR 3,905
-2.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.24 $12.24
$4.93 LKR 1,473
148.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.08 $16.08
$7.96 LKR 2,377
102.01%
Apples (1kg)
$5.41 $5.41
$6.93 LKR 2,070
-21.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 $1.73
$0.98 LKR 292
76.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$5.58 LKR 1,667
-21.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.94 $4.94
$1.37 LKR 409
260.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.88 $2.88
$1.13 LKR 339
154.87%
Onion (1kg)
$3.07 $3.07
$1.17 LKR 348
162.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.25 $2.25
$1.14 LKR 339
97.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$0.55 LKR 163
301.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.09 $10.09
$9.97 LKR 2,978
1.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.73 $14.73
$13.23 LKR 3,952
11.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$2.15 LKR 643
-11.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 $3.54
$2.83 LKR 847
25.09%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Sri Lanka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.56 $2.56
$0.22 LKR 65.5
1063.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.9 $63.9
$4.89 LKR 1,462
1205.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.81 $3.81
$0.41 LKR 123
829.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.77 $1.77
$0.36 LKR 107
391.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.4 $30.4
$0.48 LKR 145
6233.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.31 LKR 391
-28.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30K $30K
$26.8K LKR 8M
11.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$37.6K LKR 11.2M
-31.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Sri Lanka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$209 $209
$46.59 LKR 13.9K
347.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.9 $57.9
$4.42 LKR 1,322
1208.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.1 $71.1
$15.43 LKR 4,611
360.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Sri Lanka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.88 $45.88
$13.02 LKR 3,889
252.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.25 $22.25
$5.96 LKR 1,781
273.32%
Cinema Ticket
$14.14 $14.14
$3.29 LKR 983
329.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Sri Lanka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,373 $1,373
$36.95 LKR 11K
3615.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.4K $22.4K
$445 LKR 132.9K
4924.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Sri Lanka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5 $51.5
$27.77 LKR 8,297
85.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.96 $41.96
$19.1 LKR 5,706
119.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.3 $88.3
$64.2 LKR 19.2K
37.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 $112
$37.47 LKR 11.2K
197.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Sri Lanka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,731 $1,731
$269 LKR 80.4K
543.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,446 $1,446
$138 LKR 41.3K
945.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,846 $2,846
$613 LKR 183.2K
364.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,366 $2,366
$265 LKR 79.1K
793.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,245 $3,245
$1,767 LKR 527.9K
83.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,667 $2,667
$1,047 LKR 312.7K
154.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Sri Lanka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,312 $4,312
$216 LKR 64.5K
1898.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
16.21
-59.84%

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

Last update for United States: October 27, 2025

Last update for Sri Lanka: October 29, 2025

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