Cost of living in Sri Lanka

Summary of cost of living in Sri Lanka

  • Family of four estimated monthly costs: 753,706 ₨
  • Single person estimated monthly costs: 303,652 ₨
  • WARNING!  These estimates are based on only a few data points. At the moment, you should treat them only as a best guess.
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Food
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district 895 ₨
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) 1,891 ₨
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast 876 ₨
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk 479 ₨
12 eggs, large 652 ₨
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes 493 ₨
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese 1,632 ₨
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples 1,898 ₨
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes 368 ₨
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket 503 ₨
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality 5,394 ₨
2 liters of coca-cola 450 ₨
Bread for 2 people for 1 day 179 ₨
Housing
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area 228,163 ₨
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area 98,493 ₨
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat 21,450 ₨
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area 92,598 ₨
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area 54,118 ₨
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio 9,607 ₨
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) 3,210 ₨
40” flat screen tv 78,358 ₨
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) 53,577 ₨
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) 2,368 ₨
Hourly rate for cleaning help 2,000 ₨
Clothes
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) 9,187 ₨
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) 7,770 ₨
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) 7,928 ₨
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes 13,142 ₨
Transportation
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new 18,612,500 ₨
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas 366 ₨
Monthly ticket public transport 3,626 ₨
Personal Care
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) 2,499 ₨
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) 1,086 ₨
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) 4,000 ₨
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) 1,464 ₨
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) 931 ₨
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) 861 ₨
4 rolls of toilet paper 1,403 ₨
Tube of toothpaste 223 ₨
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city 1,591 ₨
Entertainment
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub 4,932 ₨
2 tickets to the movies 1,550 ₨
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) 5,110 ₨
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert 8,852 ₨
1 cocktail drink in downtown club 1,941 ₨
Cappuccino in expat area of the city 606 ₨
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) 817 ₨
Ipad wi-fi 128gb 259,143 ₨
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) 6 ₨
1 month of gym membership in business district 7,152 ₨
1 package of marlboro cigarettes 8,091 ₨

Map of Cost of Living in Sri Lanka

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This map shows only the top cities in Sri Lanka. We also have on this page a list of all the cities available in Expatistan:
List of all the cities available in Expatistan

The color of each marker corresponds with the cost of living in the city red markers show more expensive cities green ones show cheaper cities
Moving the mouse on top of a city will show its name and the Cost of Living Index of that city.

What is the Cost of Living Index? To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a central reference city (that happens to be Prague). Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.

List of all cities available in Sri Lanka

Anuradhapura Colombo Dambulla
Galle Kalmunai Kandy
Trincomalee Valvedditturai Vavuniya

Prices recently added

  • 400 ml hair shampoo 2-in-1 in Trincomalee costs 800 ₨ (6 days ago)
  • 40ml deodorant, roll-on in Trincomalee costs 563 ₨ (6 days ago)
  • 1 box of 16 of tampons (tampax, ob, ...) in Trincomalee costs 2,000 ₨ (6 days ago)
  • Taxi fare per distance, weekday at noon, per 1 km. in Trincomalee costs 100 ₨ (6 days ago)
  • 1 liter of gasoline in Trincomalee costs 410 ₨ (6 days ago)
  • Men’s leather business shoes in Trincomalee costs 8,000 ₨ (6 days ago)
  • Jeans (levis 501 or similar) in Trincomalee costs 4,000 ₨ (6 days ago)
  • Utilities, monthly for 2 people in 85 m2 in Trincomalee costs 6,000 ₨ (6 days ago)
  • 1 kg of rice in Trincomalee costs 310 ₨ (6 days ago)
  • Bread for 2 people for 1 day (250 g) in Trincomalee costs 100 ₨ (6 days ago)

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