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

Name: Sri Lanka
Address: LK

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

The cost of living in United States is about 465% higher than in Sri Lanka on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.83 $19.83

$2.92 LKR 959

579.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 $78.8

$19.61 LKR 6,442

301.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.19 $12.19

$7.72 LKR 2,538

57.90%

Cappuccino

$5.59 $5.59

$2.42 LKR 794

130.99%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$0.66 LKR 217

321.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$0.31 LKR 103

603.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 $5.86

$2.32 LKR 762

152.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 $8.02

$3.03 LKR 995

164.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.59 LKR 523

-32.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$0.50 LKR 164

636.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$0.76 LKR 249

513.16%

Eggs

$4.20 $4.20

$1.68 LKR 552

150.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.78 $12.78

$11.63 LKR 3,822

9.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.40 $12.40

$4.31 LKR 1,415

187.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.90 $16.90

$6.97 LKR 2,289

142.47%

Apples (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$5.77 LKR 1,897

-9.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$0.80 LKR 263

107.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$4.07 LKR 1,339

6.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$1.21 LKR 397

309.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$0.97 LKR 319

190.72%

Onion (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$0.82 LKR 270

279.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 $2.19

$0.79 LKR 260

177.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$0.46 LKR 150

391.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.35 $10.35

$10.31 LKR 3,388

0.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$12.18 LKR 4,001

21.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.95 LKR 640

7.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 $3.65

$2.65 LKR 871

37.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 $2.38

$0.16 LKR 53.1

1387.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.5 $64.5

$6.16 LKR 2,024

946.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$0.44 LKR 145

704.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 $1.86

$0.35 LKR 116

431.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.34 $30.34

$0.93 LKR 307

3162.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.21 LKR 397

-17.36%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$30.6K LKR 10.1M

16.07%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$39.8K LKR 13.1M

-35.09%

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

$222 $222

$48.47 LKR 15.9K

358.41%

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

$61.1 $61.1

$4.20 LKR 1,380

1355.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.7 $74.7

$16.40 LKR 5,389

355.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.49 $44.49

$13.28 LKR 4,365

235.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.35 $22.35

$6.27 LKR 2,061

256.46%

Cinema Ticket

$15.03 $15.03

$3.60 LKR 1,182

317.50%

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

$1,431 $1,431

$35.76 LKR 11.8K

3901.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.9K $25.9K

$579 LKR 190.4K

4366.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.6 $53.6

$20.60 LKR 6,769

160.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.46 $43.46

$15.48 LKR 5,088

180.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 $91.5

$72.7 LKR 23.9K

25.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$38.50 LKR 12.7K

195.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,633 $1,633

$299 LKR 98.4K

445.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,328 $1,328

$138 LKR 45.4K

860.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,606 $2,606

$787 LKR 258.5K

231.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,206 $2,206

$226 LKR 74.4K

874.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,323 $3,323

$3,647 LKR 1.2M

-8.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,653 $2,653

$1,115 LKR 366.3K

138.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,306 $4,306

$215 LKR 70.7K

1901.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

13.46

-53.86%

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

Last update for United States: September 7, 2026

Last update for Sri Lanka: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Average salary: $4,526 in United States vs $204 in Sri Lanka. 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

United States vs Sri Lanka: 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.