Cost of Living Comparison Between Wattala and Colombo Cost of Living Comparison Between Wattala and Colombo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $549 in Wattala versus $717 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $878 in Wattala versus $1,166 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,207 in Wattala versus $1,615 in Colombo.

Living in Wattala costs roughly 23% less than in Colombo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Wattala 59% lower, Colombo 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.96 LKR 1,313

$4.13 LKR 1,369

-4.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.05 LKR 8,306

$25.16 LKR 8,344

-0.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.60 LKR 2,853

$8.20 LKR 2,719

4.88%

Cappuccino

$2.76 LKR 915

$2.66 LKR 882

3.76%

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

$0.72 LKR 239

$0.68 LKR 224

5.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 125

$0.41 LKR 135

-7.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 LKR 754

$2.39 LKR 793

-5.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 LKR 1,125

$3.43 LKR 1,136

-1.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 LKR 572

$1.73 LKR 574

-0.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 175

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 267

$0.83 LKR 274

-2.41%

Eggs

$2.23 LKR 741

$2.23 LKR 739

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.15 LKR 4,690

$14.02 LKR 4,648

0.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.79 LKR 1,588

$4.65 LKR 1,543

3.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 LKR 2,613

$8.01 LKR 2,657

-1.62%

Apples (1kg)

$7.56 LKR 2,508

$7.37 LKR 2,444

2.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 351

$1.12 LKR 371

-5.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.67 LKR 1,881

$5.83 LKR 1,934

-2.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 LKR 396

$1.25 LKR 414

-4.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 380

$1.14 LKR 379

0.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 LKR 474

$1.42 LKR 470

0.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 LKR 383

$1.14 LKR 379

0.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 187

$0.59 LKR 196

-5.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.13 LKR 3,359

$10.01 LKR 3,321

1.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.98 LKR 4,303

$12.73 LKR 4,220

1.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 LKR 695

$2.11 LKR 699

-0.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 LKR 979

$2.97 LKR 985

-0.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 LKR 48.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.09 LKR 1,687

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 137

$0.38 LKR 128

7.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 118

$0.33 LKR 109

9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 192

$0.60 LKR 199

-3.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 417

$1.26 LKR 416

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

$26.5K LKR 8.8M

$26.8K LKR 8.9M

-1.15%

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

$34.7K LKR 11.5M

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

-1.43%

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

$59.0 LKR 19.6K

$60.5 LKR 20.1K

-2.48%

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

$4.45 LKR 1,476

$4.27 LKR 1,416

4.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.22 LKR 5,047

$15.34 LKR 5,086

-0.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.56 LKR 4,497

$14.79 LKR 4,903

-8.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.11 LKR 2,358

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,089

$3.28 LKR 1,086

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

$37.01 LKR 12.3K

$37.28 LKR 12.4K

-0.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$446 LKR 148.0K

$444 LKR 147.1K

0.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.84 LKR 9,230

$27.15 LKR 9,002

2.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.44 LKR 6,446

$19.13 LKR 6,344

1.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 LKR 23.4K

$70.7 LKR 23.4K

-0.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.94 LKR 12.9K

$38.24 LKR 12.7K

1.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$379 LKR 125.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 LKR 59.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$937 LKR 310.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 LKR 119.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,724 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,189 LKR 394.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$247 LKR 82.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

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

Last update for Wattala: May 31, 2026

Last update for Colombo: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Wattala vs $25.00 in Colombo. Groceries flip the comparison at $258 vs $257, with Colombo cheaper for home cooking.

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

Wattala vs Colombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Wattala wins on cost – living expenses run 31% lower than in Colombo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Wattala the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $823 in Wattala and $1,076 in Colombo to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Childcare runs $37.01 in Wattala versus $37.28 in Colombo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Wattala – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $25.00 in Colombo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Wattala gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Wattala delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $549 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Wattala hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Wattala and Colombo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Wattala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.