Last update: Nov 2026 21.4M

Cost of Living in Sri Lanka

Name: Sri Lanka
Address: LK

Across Sri Lanka, living costs for one person average $691 a month, including rent and utilities, which take about a third of the total. Other living expenses average about $15 a day.

Compare Destinations Jump to prices

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sri Lanka

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sri Lanka actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends around $691 per month with rent on average in Sri Lanka.

$691 /mo

A couple spends around $1,119 per month with rent on average in Sri Lanka.

$1,119 /mo

A family of three spends around $1,547 per month with rent on average in Sri Lanka.

$1,547 /mo

Across 48 cities in Sri Lanka, monthly living costs range from $63 to $811 – a $748 difference that makes location a key factor.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.94 LKR 978

$1.47 LKR 487

$7.35 LKR 2,443

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.13 LKR 7,028

$13.59 LKR 4,519

$40.14 LKR 13.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.33 LKR 2,437

$5.87 LKR 1,951

$8.80 LKR 2,926

Cappuccino

$2.47 LKR 821

$1.33 LKR 442

$3.79 LKR 1,260

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

$0.63 LKR 210

$0.46 LKR 153

$1.22 LKR 407

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 LKR 89.7

$0.20 LKR 67.3

$0.43 LKR 144

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 LKR 795

$1.53 LKR 508

$3.06 LKR 1,019

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 LKR 974

$2.34 LKR 780

$5.86 LKR 1,948

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 LKR 516

$0.92 LKR 306

$1.73 LKR 575

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 LKR 168

$0.37 LKR 123

$1.30 LKR 432

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 LKR 238

$0.58 LKR 193

$0.87 LKR 290

Eggs

$1.56 LKR 520

$1.07 LKR 356

$1.97 LKR 655

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.50 LKR 4,491

$6.14 LKR 2,041

$26.07 LKR 8,671

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 LKR 1,490

$2.80 LKR 932

$6.39 LKR 2,126

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.45 LKR 2,479

$4.59 LKR 1,525

$10.10 LKR 3,358

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 LKR 1,877

$2.46 LKR 818

$8.91 LKR 2,963

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 LKR 264

$0.46 LKR 154

$1.24 LKR 411

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 LKR 1,275

$1.50 LKR 500

$7.54 LKR 2,509

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 LKR 405

$0.55 LKR 184

$1.85 LKR 616

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 LKR 301

$0.44 LKR 147

$1.18 LKR 392

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 LKR 232

$0.43 LKR 143

$1.00 LKR 334

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 LKR 331

$0.31 LKR 105

$2.15 LKR 715

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 LKR 157

$0.31 LKR 105

$0.63 LKR 209

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.26 LKR 3,411

$9.05 LKR 3,011

$11.47 LKR 3,814

Wine (Bottle)

$12.81 LKR 4,262

$7.53 LKR 2,506

$18.09 LKR 6,018

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 LKR 661

$1.52 LKR 506

$2.67 LKR 887

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 LKR 978

$1.66 LKR 554

$4.30 LKR 1,430

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 LKR 60.2

$0.10 LKR 33.44

$0.36 LKR 120

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.16 LKR 2,713

$6.19 LKR 2,059

$17.02 LKR 5,662

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 125

$0.32 LKR 106

$0.58 LKR 192

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 LKR 106

$0.26 LKR 87.0

$0.58 LKR 193

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 LKR 294

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 419

$0.90 LKR 299

$1.46 LKR 484

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

$43.5K LKR 14.5M

$30.0K LKR 10.0M

$47.4K LKR 15.8M

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

$43.8K LKR 14.6M

$56.7K LKR 18.9M

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

$59.9 LKR 19.9K

$30.50 LKR 10.1K

$122 LKR 40.6K

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

$4.29 LKR 1,426

$2.66 LKR 884

$5.97 LKR 1,984

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.96 LKR 5,641

$7.06 LKR 2,350

$31.12 LKR 10.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.40 LKR 5,121

$5.90 LKR 1,963

$59.0 LKR 19.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.92 LKR 1,970

$4.42 LKR 1,469

$8.26 LKR 2,746

Cinema Ticket

$4.12 LKR 1,370

$2.36 LKR 784

$5.89 LKR 1,959

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

$41.15 LKR 13.7K

$20.85 LKR 6,936

$59.6 LKR 19.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K LKR 5.3M

$888 LKR 295.4K

$46.7K LKR 15.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.86 LKR 5,939

$9.12 LKR 3,033

$36.47 LKR 12.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.27 LKR 5,411

$6.04 LKR 2,008

$37.73 LKR 12.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 LKR 26.0K

$30.11 LKR 10.0K

$120 LKR 40.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.87 LKR 14.3K

$18.28 LKR 6,079

$60.9 LKR 20.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 LKR 140.7K

$179 LKR 59.4K

$990 LKR 329.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 LKR 61.4K

$74.6 LKR 24.8K

$537 LKR 178.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,334 LKR 443.6K

$453 LKR 150.5K

$2,506 LKR 833.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 LKR 142.7K

$150 LKR 49.8K

$1,096 LKR 364.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,743 LKR 1.2M

$3,436 LKR 1.1M

$4,111 LKR 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,138 LKR 378.5K

$1,037 LKR 344.7K

$1,155 LKR 384.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$225 LKR 74.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.72

9.5

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

Last update: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Sri Lanka $691

Groceries & Markets

$225 32.5%

Accommodation & Living

$185 26.7%

Eating Out

$97 14%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

$81 11.7%

Clothing & Footwear

$70 10.1%

Sport & Entertainment

$24 3.4%

Getting Around

$11 1.6%

Cost Breakdown

The average net salary in Sri Lanka is $213 – below average monthly costs of $691. Many locals rely on dual incomes or shared housing. Remote workers earning abroad find strong purchasing power here.

Groceries average around $218 per month nationally. A mid-range dinner for two costs about $23.

Most affordable: Puttalam at $63 per month. The capital, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, sits at $712. Across the country, monthly costs span roughly $748 between the cheapest and priciest cities.

Cost Highlights

Overall cost of living ($691) is 49% below the global median of $1,352.

Average rent ($249) is 63% below the global median of $664.

Dinner for two at a restaurant ($23) is 51% below the global median of $47.

Public transport ($7) is 79% below the global median of $33.

Good to know

🕒 Local time

02:21 2:21 AM

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

21,444,000

💱 Currency

Sri Lankan Rupee LKR Rs

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD

1,000 LKR = 2.69 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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	24	$455	$512	$1,093	$1,150	112.64	25.39
2	Anuradhapura	63200	24	$453	$509	$1,087	$1,143	52.96	22.75
3	Arugam Bay	5000						129.13	21.5
4	Badulla	110000	26	$446	$547	$1,073	$1,219	59.27	20.9
5	Bandarawela	8000	21	$395	$451	$978	$1,034	149.17	19.68
6	Battaramulla	20000	26	$476	$533	$1,136	$1,194	21.65	70.98
7	Bentota	37000	37	$418	$777	$957	$1,014	301.41	29.69
8	Beruwala	35300	24	$456	$512	$1,094	$1,151	261.53	46.24
9	Chavakachcheri	41400						89.1	33.76
10	Colombo	753000	39	$482	$811	$1,153	$1,785	228.21	77.19
11	Dambulla	68800	24	$454	$512	$1,091	$1,149	121.23	20.4
12	Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia	219827	24	$433	$491	$1,042	$1,100	-	-
13	Eravur	22982	24	$453	$509	$1,090	$1,146	116.46	32.63
14	Galle	100000	24	$454	$510	$1,092	$1,148	18.9	40.44
15	Gampaha	20000	22	$410	$468	$965	$1,023	234.02	56.98
16	Hatton	16200	24	$455	$511	$1,092	$1,148	109.87	23.68
17	Hikkaduwa	101342	24	$455	$513	$1,090	$1,147	66.16	29.69
18	Homagama	25000	24	$453	$511	$1,089	$1,147	121.23	67.99
19	Horana	15000	22	$405	$462	$973	$1,030	134.61	47.64
20	Jaffna	600000		$275	$275	$756	$756	53.05	33.76
21	Kalmunai	25000	24	$455	$512	$1,093	$1,151	36.24	21.5
22	Kalutara	39600	29	$470	$612	$1,122	$1,179	17.99	46.39
23	Kandana	15000	24	$452	$509	$1,088	$1,145	137.17	56.98
24	Kandy	125000	26	$339	$546	$785	$950	125.38	26.06
25	Kataragama	20000	24	$451	$508	$1,083	$1,140	36.08	18.87
26	Katunayaka	84643	24	$455	$511	$1,095	$1,150	-	-
27	Kegalle	17900	29	$452	$601	$1,094	$1,151	164.09	22.31
28	Kolonnawa	64800	24	$455	$512	$1,090	$1,148	183.08	70.98
29	Kurunegala	30300	24	$440	$498	$1,058	$1,116	9.1	62.73
30	Maharagama	196400		$131	$131	$361	$361	78.52	67.99
31	Matale	40800		$85.8	$119	$230	$278	96.61	22.49
32	Matara	100000	28	$448	$581	$1,074	$1,118	25.46	58.8
33	Mirissa	15000	24	$454	$510	$1,092	$1,148	128.88	24.05
34	Moratuwa	207000		$131	$131	$291	$291	276.94	68.29
35	Negombo	142449	19	$379	$405	$869	$895	73.49	51.66
36	Nuwara Eliya	27500	24	$453	$510	$1,089	$1,145	207.7	23.51
37	Panadura	33735	24	$455	$512	$1,094	$1,150	520.72	56.62
38	Piliyandala	-	28	$449	$580	$1,017	$1,253	92.23	65.75
39	Point Pedro	20000						249.16	30.16
40	Polonnaruwa	15000	24	$452	$510	$1,090	$1,148	67.29	28.52
41	Puttalam	45400		$62.8	$62.8	$156	$156	87.38	21.43
42	Ragama	15000	24	$453	$510	$1,089	$1,146	41.62	56.98
43	Ratnapura	52100						126.76	25.41
44	Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte	115826	34	$443	$712	$1,077	$1,502	145.5	67.99
45	Trincomalee	99100	24	$455	$511	$1,093	$1,149	121.91	38.21
46	Vavuniya	99600	24	$454	$511	$1,043	$1,099	253.86	23.56
47	Wattala	30200	28	$454	$574	$1,091	$1,328	29.11	56.98
48	Weligama	20000	24	$455	$512	$1,095	$1,151	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.

In 2026, monthly costs in Sri Lanka range from $63 in the most affordable city to $811 in the most expensive one. Where you choose to live makes a dramatic difference – the gap between cheapest and most expensive cities is huge.

Living costs across Sri Lanka vary hugely by location. In 2026, monthly expenses range from $63 in affordable regions to $811 in major cities.

Absolutely – in smaller cities across Sri Lanka, $1,200 covers rent and daily expenses with room to spare for eating out, entertainment, and saving. Even mid-sized cities work at this budget level.