Cost of Living

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Live cost-of-living data for Colombo — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
11/ 10089% cheaper than New York
-29% rent since Jul 2026
$227/mo
Median Income
58/100
Safety
18%
Income Tax
tropical
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
25/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$392/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$196/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$784/month
Food & Groceries
25/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.2/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.8/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.2/kg
Transportation
15/100
Monthly Transit Pass$6/month
One-Way Ticket$0.15/trip
Taxi (1 km)$0.75/km
Utilities
20/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$50/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$25/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$12/month
Healthcare
40/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$15/visit
Dentist Visit$30/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$8/course
Education
35/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$300/month
International Primary School (yearly)$4,680/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$250/course
Entertainment
25/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$4/ticket
Theater Ticket$15/ticket
Museum Entry$5/ticket
Clothing
30/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$40/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$25/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$60/pair
Personal Care
20/100
Haircut (Men)$8/cut
Haircut (Women)$15/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$2.5/bottle
Dining Out
20/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$3.2/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$22/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$6.1/meal
Childcare
30/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$400/month
Babysitter (per hour)$6/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$12/pack
Fitness & Sports
25/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$25/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$12/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$4/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

23 Mbps
Internet Speed
$70
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
62/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Cinnamon Gardens (Colombo 7), Kollupitiya (Colombo 3)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Colombo cheap to live in?

Colombo has a cost of living index of 11/100, where New York = 100. It is 89% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $400–$560 per month.

How much does rent cost in Colombo?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Colombo costs approximately $392/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $196/month.

Is Colombo good for digital nomads?

Colombo has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 23 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $70/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Colombo?

The median net monthly salary in Colombo is approximately $227 USD. The income tax rate is around 18%.

How does Colombo compare to New York for cost of living?

Colombo (cost index 11) is 89% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $2,225/month by moving from New York to Colombo.

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