City in Western Province, Sri Lanka
Cost of living in Colombo
How much a month costs in Colombo
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $908–1,360 (Rs300,000–450,000).
Prices in Colombo
Typical 2026 ranges in LKR, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | LKR | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | Rs120,000–250,000 | $363–757 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | Rs70,000–140,000 | $212–424 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | Rs3,000–6,000 | $9.1–18.2 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | Rs18,000–40,000 | $54–121 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | Rs600–1,200 | $1.8–3.6 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | Rs3,000–6,500 | $9.1–19.7 |
| Cappuccino | Rs700–1,300 | $2.1–3.9 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | Rs900–1,800 | $2.7–5.4 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | Rs30–100 | $0.09–0.30 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | Rs700–1,500 | $2.1–4.5 |
| Work and life | ||
| Gym membership (month) | Rs8,000–20,000 | $24–61 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | Rs1,400–2,500 | $4.2–7.6 |
Value for money: 74/100
A value score of 74/100 means Colombo gives more quality of life per dollar than 73% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 55/100. It's the 17th most affordable of 18 places we cover in Sri Lanka.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Sri Lanka
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Trincomalee | $636–1,030 | 89/100 |
| Sigiriya | $666–1,090 | 89/100 |
| Hikkaduwa | $666–1,090 | 89/100 |
| Negombo | $666–1,090 | 88/100 |
| Nuwara Eliya | $696–1,120 | 85/100 |
| Weligama | $696–1,150 | 86/100 |
| Arugam Bay | $696–1,150 | 86/100 |
| Jaffna | $696–1,150 | 87/100 |
| Ella | $757–1,150 | 87/100 |
| Kandy | $757–1,150 | 87/100 |
| Unawatuna | $726–1,180 | 84/100 |
| Galle | $757–1,210 | 83/100 |
| Hiriketiya | $757–1,270 | 81/100 |
| Mirissa | $787–1,270 | 80/100 |
| Ahangama | $787–1,270 | 80/100 |
| Tangalle | $817–1,360 | 75/100 |
| Colombo | $908–1,360 | 74/100 |
| Bentota | $908–1,510 | 68/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Colombo
Similar safety, lower cost, in South Asia.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Hampi | India | $291–467 |
| Darjeeling | India | $332–519 |
| Mysore | India | $363–571 |
| Dharamshala | India | $394–674 |
| Pondicherry | India | $415–674 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Colombo?
About $454–666 on a lean budget, $908–1,360 for a comfortable month and $1,820–3,030 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Colombo?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs Rs120,000–250,000 ($363–757) a month in the center and Rs70,000–140,000 ($212–424) outside it.
How much does food cost in Colombo?
A local meal is Rs600–1,200 ($1.8–3.6); a mid-range restaurant is Rs3,000–6,500 ($9.1–19.7) per person.
Is Sri Lanka expensive?
Prices in Sri Lanka are about 27% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Colombo
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Bandaranaike International Airport
- Sri Lanka Railways
- PickMe
- Asiri Health
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.