Cost of Living in Sri Lanka - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Sri Lanka
Address: LK

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $471 (excluding rent), and $667 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,146 (excluding rent), and $1,421 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.39 LKR 1,070

$1.69 LKR 533

$6.79 LKR 2,140

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.23 LKR 7,327

$13.27 LKR 4,185

$49.78 LKR 15.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.87 LKR 2,165

$5.49 LKR 1,732

$10.30 LKR 3,248

Cappuccino

$2.56 LKR 808

$0.97 LKR 307

$3.92 LKR 1,235

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

$0.72 LKR 228

$0.51 LKR 161

$1.19 LKR 376

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 LKR 114

$0.29 LKR 90.0

$0.64 LKR 201

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 LKR 747

$1.53 LKR 482

$3.39 LKR 1,070

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 LKR 1,045

$2.31 LKR 730

$6.62 LKR 2,089

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 LKR 548

$1.34 LKR 422

$1.88 LKR 593

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 LKR 180

$0.48 LKR 151

$1.37 LKR 431

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 LKR 270

$0.70 LKR 221

$1.22 LKR 385

Eggs

$2.23 LKR 703

$1.23 LKR 388

$2.65 LKR 837

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.97 LKR 4,091

$4.30 LKR 1,356

$29.80 LKR 9,399

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 LKR 1,541

$3.20 LKR 1,011

$7.08 LKR 2,234

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.63 LKR 2,405

$4.92 LKR 1,552

$11.49 LKR 3,623

Apples (1kg)

$6.85 LKR 2,161

$1.95 LKR 616

$9.77 LKR 3,080

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 LKR 319

$0.51 LKR 159

$2.03 LKR 641

Oranges (1kg)

$5.72 LKR 1,804

$1.68 LKR 531

$10.14 LKR 3,198

Tomato (1kg)

$1.33 LKR 420

$0.53 LKR 168

$2.65 LKR 834

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 361

$0.61 LKR 194

$1.71 LKR 539

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 361

$0.52 LKR 165

$1.95 LKR 616

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 LKR 354

$0.32 LKR 102

$2.62 LKR 826

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 LKR 183

$0.41 LKR 131

$0.69 LKR 219

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.24 LKR 3,228

$8.52 LKR 2,689

$11.94 LKR 3,765

Wine (Bottle)

$12.49 LKR 3,940

$7.81 LKR 2,462

$18.73 LKR 5,908

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 LKR 668

$1.35 LKR 426

$2.70 LKR 852

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 LKR 880

$1.77 LKR 557

$3.92 LKR 1,237

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 LKR 75.8

$0.14 LKR 42.83

$0.34 LKR 109

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.04 LKR 1,588

$3.36 LKR 1,060

$10.08 LKR 3,179

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 132

$0.35 LKR 109

$0.63 LKR 198

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 112

$0.28 LKR 89.1

$0.64 LKR 201

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 LKR 165

$0.34 LKR 109

$1.04 LKR 329

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 398

$1.03 LKR 323

$1.41 LKR 445

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

$27.2K LKR 8.6M

$20.4K LKR 6.4M

$35.3K LKR 11.1M

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

$38.4K LKR 12.1M

$25.4K LKR 8.0M

$50.7K LKR 16.0M

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

$46.92 LKR 14.8K

$26.53 LKR 8,367

$82.9 LKR 26.1K

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

$4.58 LKR 1,445

$2.04 LKR 644

$8.50 LKR 2,681

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.08 LKR 4,755

$7.93 LKR 2,502

$33.03 LKR 10.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.85 LKR 4,054

$6.66 LKR 2,099

$21.62 LKR 6,817

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.07 LKR 1,913

$3.34 LKR 1,052

$10.01 LKR 3,157

Cinema Ticket

$3.26 LKR 1,027

$2.27 LKR 717

$4.88 LKR 1,539

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

$36.58 LKR 11.5K

$16.52 LKR 5,210

$82.6 LKR 26.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$443 LKR 139.8K

$200 LKR 63.2K

$1,002 LKR 315.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.95 LKR 8,499

$11.59 LKR 3,655

$66.2 LKR 20.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.75 LKR 5,913

$7.67 LKR 2,418

$43.35 LKR 13.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.0 LKR 20.2K

$33.27 LKR 10.5K

$116 LKR 36.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.01 LKR 11.7K

$20.04 LKR 6,321

$66.8 LKR 21.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$270 LKR 85.2K

$118 LKR 37.3K

$608 LKR 191.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 LKR 44.9K

$67.8 LKR 21.4K

$339 LKR 106.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$604 LKR 190.4K

$191 LKR 60.2K

$1,482 LKR 467.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 LKR 84.8K

$117 LKR 37.0K

$503 LKR 158.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,461 LKR 1.1M

$2,351 LKR 741.4K

$4,181 LKR 1.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,237 LKR 390.2K

$1,044 LKR 329.4K

$1,617 LKR 510.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$217 LKR 68.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.21

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

Last update: April 13, 2026

By City in Sri Lanka

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Amparai	110000	26	$453	$518	$1,073	$1,166	112.64	25.39
2	Anuradhapura	63200	25	$403	$489	$1,168	$1,181	52.96	22.75
3	Arugam Bay	5000						129.13	21.5
4	Badulla	110000	26	$399	$525	$1,069	$1,197	59.27	20.9
5	Bandarawela	8000	29	$445	$593	$1,034	$1,259	149.17	19.68
6	Battaramulla	20000	26	$507	$533	$996	$1,178	21.65	70.98
7	Bentota	37000	33	$379	$644	$900	$1,090	301.41	29.69
8	Beruwala	35300	26	$419	$525	$1,287	$1,191	261.53	46.24
9	Chavakachcheri	41400						89.1	33.76
10	Colombo	753000	36	$484	$710	$1,189	$1,612	228.21	77.19
11	Dambulla	68800	26	$446	$524	$1,028	$1,174	121.23	20.4
12	Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia	-	26	$458	$529	$1,190	$1,210	-	-
13	Eravur	-	26	$424	$523	$1,240	$1,186	116.46	32.63
14	Galle	100000	25	$451	$501	$1,149	$1,301	18.9	40.44
15	Gampaha	20000	25	$421	$505	$877	$1,216	234.02	56.98
16	Hatton	16200	26	$527	$531	$1,223	$1,211	109.87	23.68
17	Hikkaduwa	101342	30	$408	$593	$1,179	$1,637	66.16	29.69
18	Homagama	25000	26	$426	$518	$992	$1,102	121.23	67.99
19	Horana	15000	26	$399	$514	$1,259	$1,202	134.61	47.64
20	Jaffna	600000		$311	$506	$547	$885	53.05	33.76
21	Kalmunai	25000	33	$429	$647	$1,193	$1,475	36.24	21.5
22	Kalutara	39600	27	$406	$548	$981	$1,217	17.99	46.39
23	Kandana	15000	26	$467	$525	$1,152	$1,215	137.17	56.98
24	Kandy	125000	27	$418	$542	$897	$1,172	125.38	26.06
25	Kataragama	20000	26	$449	$527	$1,061	$1,176	36.08	18.87
26	Katunayaka	-	26	$405	$537	$1,227	$1,186	-	-
27	Kegalle	17900	26	$505	$530	$1,086	$1,176	164.09	22.31
28	Kolonnawa	64800	26	$499	$516	$1,005	$1,185	183.08	70.98
29	Kurunegala	30300	22	$434	$448	$1,098	$1,053	9.1	62.73
30	Maharagama	196400		$405	$467	$1,005	$1,131	78.52	67.99
31	Matale	40800		$158	$228	$471	$533	96.61	22.49
32	Matara	100000	29	$493	$585	$1,036	$1,244	25.46	58.8
33	Mirissa	15000	33	$430	$654	$1,106	$1,150	128.88	24.05
34	Moratuwa	207000		$74.5	$73.6	$167	$179	276.94	68.29
35	Negombo	142449	21	$412	$418	$995	$948	73.49	51.66
36	Nuwara Eliya	27500	26	$440	$518	$1,304	$1,192	207.7	23.51
37	Panadura	-	26	$507	$537	$988	$1,215	520.72	56.62
38	Piliyandala	-	26	$482	$529	$1,199	$1,106	92.23	65.75
39	Point Pedro	20000						249.16	30.16
40	Polonnaruwa	15000	26	$511	$529	$1,092	$1,187	67.29	28.52
41	Puttalam	45400		$95.9	$89.7	$154	$161	87.38	21.43
42	Ragama	15000	26	$446	$522	$999	$1,167	41.62	56.98
43	Ratnapura	52100	26	$441	$516	$1,062	$1,187	126.76	25.41
44	Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte	115826	37	$420	$739	$1,044	$1,573	145.5	67.99
45	Trincomalee	99100	26	$401	$531	$1,001	$1,188	121.91	38.21
46	Vavuniya	99600	26	$481	$528	$1,250	$1,129	253.86	23.56
47	Wattala	30200	27	$509	$535	$1,317	$1,222	29.11	56.98
48	Weligama	20000	37	$484	$742	$1,099	$1,098	225.1	71.08

Sri Lanka Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in Sri Lanka - Frequently Asked Questions

Cost of Living in Sri Lanka is typically favorable for long stays, with a noticeable gap between budget-friendly options and tourist-forward services. You’ll find value in local eateries, bus and train travel, and simple guesthouses that keep daily costs gentle, while Western-style accommodations or premium experiences raise the ceiling. The country’s mix of Colombo’s bustle, coast towns, and hill country allows you to tailor your lifestyle to your budget. Seasonality matters, too: shoulder seasons can soften prices on stays and activities. Tip: choose neighborhoods by daily routines and access to markets, not just price, to maximize comfort.

Daily life centers on accessible services and neighborhood flavor. For housing, start with local rental listings, then walk a few blocks to gauge noise, security, and daily routes to markets. Food options range from vibrant street stalls to family-owned eateries; cooking at home helps control costs while still enjoying fresh produce at markets. Public transport is generally affordable, with trains and buses offering comfortable routes between towns; ride-hailing apps are expanding but still inexpensive. Co-working spaces exist in major towns, making remote work practical. Sri Lanka living cost remains friendly if you favor local services and longer stays. Tip: explore several neighborhoods on short stays to gauge the vibe before committing.

Quality of life comes from balance and pace. Build a simple budget using three buckets: essentials, flexible spending, and a small buffer for occasional travel. Seasonality matters: monsoon shifts impact beach access and traffic, while dry periods bring more sunny days but higher crowds in popular spots. To choose a neighborhood, align with your daily needs: proximity to markets or coworking, reliable internet, safety, and a vibe that suits your pace – Colombo suburbs for urban convenience, coastal towns for slower rhythms, or highland towns for cool weather. Tap locally: try short-term stays in several areas before committing. Tip: keep a flexible schedule and revisit your cost anchors as you settle in.