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 147.1% more expensive than Sri Lanka without rent, and 325.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: United States is 141.5% more expensive than Sri Lanka without rent, and 283.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Sri Lanka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.36 $20.36
$3.39 LKR 1,070
500.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.3 $74.3
$23.23 LKR 7,329
220.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.42 $11.42
$6.87 LKR 2,166
66.23%
Cappuccino
$5.21 $5.21
$2.56 LKR 808
103.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 $2.62
$0.72 LKR 228
263.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$0.36 LKR 114
497.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$2.37 LKR 748
146.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.18 $7.18
$3.31 LKR 1,045
116.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Sri Lanka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.74 LKR 548
-37.93%
White Bread (500g)
$3.59 $3.59
$0.57 LKR 180
529.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.71 $4.71
$0.86 LKR 270
447.67%
Eggs
$4.38 $4.38
$2.23 LKR 703
96.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.67 $12.67
$12.97 LKR 4,093
-2.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.40 $12.40
$4.89 LKR 1,542
153.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.39 $16.39
$7.63 LKR 2,406
114.81%
Apples (1kg)
$5.16 $5.16
$6.85 LKR 2,161
-24.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.01 LKR 319
70.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.47 $4.47
$5.72 LKR 1,805
-21.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.01 $5.01
$1.33 LKR 420
276.69%
Potato (1kg)
$2.91 $2.91
$1.15 LKR 361
153.04%
Onion (1kg)
$3.06 $3.06
$1.15 LKR 362
166.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.12 LKR 354
92.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$0.58 LKR 183
281.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.93 $9.93
$10.24 LKR 3,229
-3.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.94 $14.94
$12.49 LKR 3,941
19.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$2.12 LKR 668
-9.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 $3.70
$2.79 LKR 880
32.62%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Sri Lanka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.55 $2.55
$0.24 LKR 75.8
962.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.0 $65.0
$5.04 LKR 1,589
1190.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 $3.69
$0.42 LKR 132
778.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 $1.78
$0.36 LKR 112
394.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.24 $30.24
$0.52 LKR 165
5715.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.26 LKR 398
-24.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$27.2K LKR 8.6M
9.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$38.4K LKR 12.1M
-31.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Sri Lanka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$210 $210
$46.92 LKR 14.8K
346.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.3 $58.3
$4.58 LKR 1,445
1172.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.1 $72.1
$15.08 LKR 4,756
378.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Sri Lanka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.90 $45.90
$12.85 LKR 4,055
257.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.20 $22.20
$6.07 LKR 1,914
265.73%
Cinema Ticket
$14.25 $14.25
$3.26 LKR 1,027
337.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Sri Lanka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,367 $1,367
$36.58 LKR 11.5K
3636.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.8K $22.8K
$443 LKR 139.8K
5040.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Sri Lanka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.0 $53.0
$26.95 LKR 8,502
96.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.96 $42.96
$18.75 LKR 5,915
129.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.4 $89.4
$64.0 LKR 20.2K
39.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$37.01 LKR 11.7K
206.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Sri Lanka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,766 $1,766
$270 LKR 85.2K
553.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,460 $1,460
$142 LKR 44.9K
925.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,865 $2,865
$604 LKR 190.4K
374.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,360 $2,360
$269 LKR 84.9K
777.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,427 $3,427
$3,461 LKR 1.1M
-0.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,624 $2,624
$1,237 LKR 390.4K
112.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Sri Lanka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,306 $4,306
$217 LKR 68.3K
1888.42%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Sri Lanka: April 13, 2026

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

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