Practical Information

DAILY COSTS BUDGET (up to)

Food [Edit]
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district 552 ₨
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (Big Mac Meal or similar) 649 ₨
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast 363 ₨
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk 210 ₨
12 eggs, large 221 ₨
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes 195 ₨
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese 1,251 ₨
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples 409 ₨
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes 149 ₨
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket 302 ₨
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality 3,365 ₨
2 liters of Coca-Cola 236 ₨
Bread for 2 people for 1 day 69 ₨
Housing [Edit]
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 Sqft) furnished accommodation in EXPENSIVE area 113,765 ₨
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 Sqft) furnished accommodation in NORMAL area 42,408 ₨
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas …) for 2 people in 85m2 flat 8,416 ₨
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 Sqft) furnished studio in EXPENSIVE area 60,838 ₨
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 Sqft) furnished studio in NORMAL area 56,375 ₨
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas …) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 Sqft) studio 4,866 ₨
Internet 8 Mbps (1 month) 1,871 ₨
40” flat screen TV 62,093 ₨
Microwave 800/900 Watt (Bosch, Panasonic, LG, Sharp, or equivalent brands) 23,612 ₨
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) 669 ₨
Hourly rate for cleaning help 600 ₨
Clothes [Edit]
1 pair of jeans (Levis 501 or similar) 6,084 ₨
1 summer dress in a High Street Store (Zara, H&M or similar retailers) 3,182 ₨
1 pair of sport shoes (Nike, Adidas, or equivalent brands) 9,558 ₨
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes 6,457 ₨
Transportation [Edit]
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI 150 CV (or equivalent), with no extras, new 4,789,990 ₨
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas 120 ₨
Monthly ticket public transport 2,175 ₨
Taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff, 8 km. (5 miles) 651 ₨
Personal Care [Edit]
Cold medicine for 6 days (Tylenol, Frenadol, Coldrex, or equivalent brands) 330 ₨
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) 482 ₨
Short visit to private Doctor (15 minutes) 2,332 ₨
1 box of 32 tampons (Tampax, OB, …) 546 ₨
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) 493 ₨
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) 383 ₨
4 rolls of toilet paper 247 ₨
Tube of toothpaste 111 ₨
Standard men’s haircut in expat area of the city 515 ₨
Entertainment [Edit]
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub 3,830 ₨
2 tickets to the movies 1,036 ₨
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) 3,513 ₨
Dinner for two at an Italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert 5,948 ₨
1 cocktail drink in downtown club 797 ₨
Cappuccino in expat area of the city 565 ₨
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) 502 ₨
iPad Wi-Fi 128GB 73,223 ₨
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) 509 ₨
1 month of gym membership in business district 4,426 ₨
1 package of Marlboro cigarettes 1,197 ₨

These prices are based on abundant and consistent data. They are very reliable. They are based on 763 prices entered by 94 different people.

Latest price update: June 04, 2018.

Banks with ATMs are everywhere you look in Colombo. Foreign exchange offices are concentrated in and around the city. Travel agents and moneychangers offer international money transfers too.