Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka — cost of living
Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

Colombo, Sri Lanka

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Country
Sri Lanka
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Relocation
Colombo, Sri Lanka

About Colombo, Sri Lanka

Costs exclude rent
Single / month
$252
Family of 4 / mo
$630
Avg salary (after tax)
$227

Colombo is the vibrant capital city of Sri Lanka , located on the southwest coast of the island. It is a bustling hub of activity, blending modern skyscrapers with historical buildings. The city has beautiful beaches, like Galle Face Green, where people enjoy walking and flying kites.

Data aggregated from public cost-of-living sources. See About for methodology.Wikipedia · Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)· Updated May 22, 2026

Cost breakdown by category

Cost breakdown

Filters items shown below only — for a global search, use the bar in the header.

Fashion

  • Men's Dress ShoesUSD $39.58
  • Classic Jeans (e.g., Levi's 501)USD $32.02
  • Summer Dress from Chain Stores (e.g., Zara, H&M)USD $19.12
  • Midrange Nike Running ShoesUSD $69.86

Financial

  • Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed)USD $0.04
  • Average Monthly Salary After TaxUSD $253.34

Food - Beverages

  • Imported Beer (Small Bottle)USD $2.63
  • Soft Drinks (350 ml Bottle)USD $0.45
  • CappuccinoUSD $2.22
  • Local Draft Beer (Pint)USD $1.6
  • Bottled Water (350 ml)USD $0.22

Food - Dining

  • Casual Dining ExperienceUSD $1.97
  • Upscale Dinner for TwoUSD $17.55
  • Fast Food ComboUSD $4.82

Food - Grocery

  • Apples (1 kg)USD $4.31
  • Bananas (1 kg)USD $0.93
  • Oranges (1 kg)USD $3.48
  • Tomatoes (1 kg)USD $1.72
  • Potatoes (1 kg)USD $1.31
  • Onions (1 kg)USD $1.1
  • Lettuce (1 Head)USD $1.1
  • Bottled Water (1.5L)USD $0.47
  • Midrange Bottle of WineUSD $8.77
  • Marlboro (20-Pack)USD $7.45
  • Milk (1 litre)USD $1.93
  • Fresh White Bread (1 kg)USD $1.45
  • White Rice (1 kg)USD $1.03
  • Dozen EggsUSD $2.04
  • Local Cheese (1 kg)USD $9.02
  • Chicken Fillets (1 kg)USD $4.82
  • Beef Round (1 kg)USD $6.96

Housing

  • Average Rent of 3-Bedroom Apartment Outside City CenterUSD $354.04
  • Average Cost per Square Foot for Apartments in City CenterUSD $243.57
  • Average Cost per Square Foot for Apartments Outside City CenterUSD $126.85
  • Average Rent of 1-Bedroom Apartment in City CenterUSD $541.16
  • Average Rent of 1-Bedroom Apartment Outside City CenterUSD $192.88
  • Average Rent of 3-Bedroom Apartment in City CenterUSD $952.54

Leisure

  • Monthly Fee for Private Kindergarten (1 Child)USD $49.04
  • Yearly Cost for International Primary School (1 Child)USD $743.18
  • Monthly Fee for Fitness Club Membership (1 Adult)USD $15.83
  • Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend)USD $4.04
  • Cinema Ticket (International Release)USD $3.84

Transportation

  • Average Rate to Start a Taxi RideUSD $0.34
  • One-Way Local Transport FareUSD $0.17
  • 1 Hour Taxi WaitUSD $0.59
  • Average Price of a New Compact Hatchback CarUSD $27,193
  • Average Price of a New Sedan CarUSD $44,399
  • Average Taxi Fare for 1 kmUSD $0.5
  • Average Monthly Cost of Public Transport PassUSD $5.26

Utilities (Monthly)

  • Average Monthly Cost for Essential Utilities in a 915 sq. ft. ApartmentUSD $34.96
  • Internet Service (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited)USD $17.68

Costs reflect a typical lifestyle in each place, excluding rent unless stated. Numbers are a starting point — always cross-check before big decisions.

  • Single / Family of 4 toggle. Family ≈ 2.7× single when no verified figure exists.
  • Estimated values use a ~ prefix and an "Estimated" label.
  • Spot something off? Hit Report — corrections reach consensus automatically.
How we calculate these numbers

When local data is missing (e.g. salary for a smaller city), we estimate from peer cities in the same country using a median ratio.

Full methodology, assumptions, and formulas live on our About page.