How much do groceries cost in Colombo?

Basic grocery prices: milk (1L) — $1.79, eggs (12) — $2.17, chicken breast (500g) — $3.05.

Cost of Living in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Prices in Sri Lanka — Colombo + 3 more cities, Updated March 2026

Budget

1 LKR = 0.0030 USD Rate updated October 27, 2026

LKR / USD →

🍜 $4.96 1,647 LKR Business Lunch (incl. drink)

☕ $3.23 1,072 LKR Cappuccino

🚌 $13.9 4,612 LKR Monthly Transport Pass

🏠 $227.9 75,665 LKR Studio 45m² (normal area)

How much does it cost to live in Colombo alone?

1 person

$494

≈ €442

To live in Colombo on a moderate budget, you'll need around $494/month. That covers renting a studio in a normal area ($228), weekday lunches out ($99), weekend casual meals ($57), a daily coffee, tea, or other cheap drinks ($97), a monthly transit pass ($14), and a few taxi rides (). No gym, no dining out every night — just everyday life.

How much does it cost to live in Colombo for two?

2 persons

$918 ≈ €821

If there are two of you, plan on around $918 ≈ €821/month — a proper apartment ($385), meals and daily drinks for both, two transit passes, and more taxi rides.

What does it cost to raise a family in Colombo?

Family

$985 ≈ €880

With a child, the total comes to around $985 ≈ €880/month. Kids eat less, rarely pay for transit, but you'll need more taxi rides and little extras add up fast. School fees not included.

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Food & Drinks

How much does eating out cost in Colombo?

Item USD $ LKR ₨

🍽️ Business Lunch (incl. drink) $4.96 1,647 LKR

🍔 Fast Food Combo Meal $7.07 2,348 LKR

🍗 Chicken Breast (500g) $3.05 1,013 LKR

🥛 Milk (1L) $1.79 594.3 LKR

🥚 Eggs (12) $2.17 720.5 LKR

🍅 Tomatoes (1kg) $1.47 488.1 LKR

🧀 Local Cheese (500g) $8.96 2,975 LKR

🍎 Apples (1kg) $6.52 2,165 LKR

🥔 Potatoes (1kg) $1.26 418.4 LKR

🍺 Beer 0.5L (supermarket) $1.98 657.4 LKR

🍷 Wine Bottle (red, table) $15 4,984 LKR

🥤 Coca-Cola (2L) $1.44 478.1 LKR

🍞 Bread (2 people, 1 day) $0.66 219.1 LKR

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Rent & Housing

How much is rent in Colombo?

Item USD $ LKR ₨

🏢 Rent 85m² (expensive area) $825.8 274,200 LKR

🏠 Rent 85m² (normal area) $385.1 127,877 LKR

💡 Utilities 85m² (2 persons) $116.2 38,589 LKR

🏢 Studio 45m² (expensive) $413.7 137,364 LKR

🏠 Studio 45m² (normal area) $227.9 75,665 LKR

💡 Utilities 45m² (1 person) $57.4 19,046 LKR

📶 Internet (monthly) $14.4 4,791 LKR

📺 TV 40" Flat Screen $603.7 200,451 LKR

🔲 Microwave (800/900W) $169.8 56,367 LKR

🧴 Laundry Detergent (3L) $11.1 3,676 LKR

🧹 Cleaning Help (per hour) $4.01 1,331 LKR

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Clothing & Shoes

How much do clothes cost in Colombo?

Item USD $ LKR ₨

👖 Jeans (Levis 501) $44.8 14,872 LKR

👗 Summer Dress (Zara, H&M) $69 22,924 LKR

👟 Sport Shoes (Nike, Adidas) $86.4 28,691 LKR

👞 Leather Business Shoes $50.1 16,632 LKR

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Transportation

How much does transport cost in Colombo?

Item USD $ LKR ₨

🚗 VW Golf (new) $58,972 19,580,871 LKR

⛽ Gasoline (1L) $1.15 381.8 LKR

🎫 Monthly Transport Pass $13.9 4,612 LKR

🚕 Taxi Trip (8km) — —

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Healthcare

How much does healthcare cost in Colombo?

Item USD $ LKR ₨

💊 Cold Medicine (6 days) $1.96 650.8 LKR

💉 Antibiotics (12 doses) $5.65 1,876 LKR

🏥 Doctor Visit (15 min) $20.7 6,870 LKR

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Personal Care

How much does personal care cost in Colombo?

Item USD $ LKR ₨

🧻 Tampons (32 pcs) $5.81 1,929 LKR

🧴 Deodorant (50ml) $3.26 1,082 LKR

🧴 Shampoo (400ml) $2.88 956.3 LKR

🧻 Toilet Paper (4 rolls) $2.63 873.3 LKR

🪥 Toothpaste $1.10 365.2 LKR

💇 Men's Haircut $5.87 1,949 LKR

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Entertainment & Leisure

How much does entertainment cost in Colombo?

Item USD $ LKR ₨

🍺 Dinner for 2 (pub) $20.4 6,784 LKR

🎬 Cinema (2 tickets) $5.90 1,959 LKR

🎭 Theater (2 tickets, best) $33.6 11,170 LKR

🍝 Italian Dinner for 2 (full) $35.5 11,787 LKR

🍸 Cocktail (downtown) $13.2 4,373 LKR

☕ Cappuccino $3.23 1,072 LKR

🍺 Beer in Pub (500ml) $2.68 889.9 LKR

📱 iPad Wi-Fi 128GB $580.9 192,870 LKR

📱 Mobile (1 min, prepaid) $0.33 109.6 LKR

🏋️ Gym Membership (monthly) $28.4 9,430 LKR

🚬 Marlboro Cigarettes $15.1 5,024 LKR

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Prices by City

Which city in Sri Lanka is the cheapest to live in?

	Colombo ★	Galle	Trincomalee	Kandy
🍽️ Business Lunch (incl. drink)	$4.96 1,647 LKR	$2.14 710.6 LKR	$1.69 561.1 LKR	$2.59 860 LKR
☕ Cappuccino	$3.23 1,072 LKR	—	—	$3.06 1,016 LKR
🍺 Beer in Pub (500ml)	$2.68 889.9 LKR	$2.45 813.5 LKR	—	$2.73 906.5 LKR
🎫 Monthly Transport Pass	$13.9 4,612 LKR	—	—	$11.4 3,792 LKR
🏢 Studio 45m² (expensive)	$413.7 137,364 LKR	$323.3 107,358 LKR	—	$323.3 107,358 LKR

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All Cities in Sri Lanka

Average cost of living in other cities

Colombo ~$494 (current) Galle Kandy ~$418 Trincomalee ~$98

✓ Verified by Dmitriy

Know.Travel founder · traveler, more than 80 countries

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Sri Lanka is an island where travelers find some of Asia's best bang for your buck - from peaceful Galle ($43/month) to the livelier Colombo ($494/month). Ancient Buddhist temples here date back centuries before Christ, and tea plantations brought by the British became the lifeblood of the local economy. Local transport - colorful buses and trains - is one of the best travel bargains you'll find, costing just a few cents per ride.