#1 2008-08-12 12:21:09
- expat blog
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- From: small earth
- Registered: 2008-06-01
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Cost of living in Sri Lanka
Hi everybody,
It would be very useful to talk about the cost of living in Sri Lanka.
Don't forget to mention where in Sri Lanka you are living.
How much does it cost to live in Sri Lanka?
> accommodation prices
> public transportation fares (tube, bus etc ...)
> food prices(per month, how much does it cost you?)
> health prices (for those who need medical insurance)
> eduction prices (if you need to pay)
> energy prices (oil, electricity)
> common bills (Internet, television, telephone, mobile phone)
> prices of a good menu in a traditional restaurant
> prices of a beer and or a coffee in a regular pub
> price of the cinema
Do not hesitate to add items to this list!
Thanks in advance for your participation!!
The expat blog team
Share your expat experience!
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#2 2009-01-14 22:52:22
- wisetalk
- Member
- From: Colombo
- Registered: 2009-01-14
- Posts: 10
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
Well if you look at the Colombo area these days, cost of living is much higher than it used to be.
I would say that an average person would have daily expenses of about $80.
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#3 2009-01-14 22:56:30
- wisetalk
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- From: Colombo
- Registered: 2009-01-14
- Posts: 10
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
When we consider transport facilities, it varies around the city. Bus fares are quite reasonable. They were constantly increasing but eventually it has come down and it is ok now. Other than that there are three wheelers which are little bit expensive but not bad.
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#4 2009-02-23 14:22:18
- gsrastogi
- New member
- From: colombo
- Registered: 2009-02-23
- Posts: 2
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
I want to know the secirity scenerio keeping in mind the current LTTE issue. further I want to know about the following
accommodation prices
> public transportation fares (tube, bus etc ...)
> food prices(per month, how much does it cost you?)
> health prices (for those who need medical insurance)
> eduction prices (if you need to pay)
> energy prices (oil, electricity)
> common bills (Internet, television, telephone, mobile phone)
> prices of a good menu in a traditional restaurant
> price of the cinema
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#5 2009-08-05 16:07:56
- rambolanka
- New member
- From: Colombo
- Registered: 2009-08-05
- Posts: 4
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
Monthly rent 45,000
Petrol 30,000
Food – house 30,000
Eating out 20,000
Staff wages 32,000
Electricity 8,000
Water 85
Gas 500
Clothes 5,000
Mobile 15,000
TV 1,200
Internet 2,500
Total 190,000 approx
Per day $54
All the above are monthly and in SLR.
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#6 2010-07-30 04:53:14
- speedmax
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- From: Colombo
- Registered: 2010-07-30
- Posts: 1
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
Expecting support from the sports loving people to promote Netball & Athletics in Sri Lanka.
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#7 2011-04-26 07:35:24
- buh
- New member
- From: Santa Monica, CA
- Registered: 2011-04-22
- Posts: 1
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
So that's about USD400.00 for monthly rent.
I was hoping it wouldn't be more than USD200.00/mo.
What could I get for USD200??
Thanks a lot.
buh
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#8 2011-04-26 07:46:29
- Slimsl
- Active member
- From: Colombo
- Registered: 2009-07-13
- Posts: 70
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
for 200$ you will be able to find a small anex or good room sharing with a family or something , but anex would be ideal.
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#9 2011-04-27 21:39:30
- raulmonda
- Member
- From: Arad
- Registered: 2011-04-27
- Posts: 11
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
hi gals and guys,
im thinking to settle in Colombo, starting a small business. as i see above a decent life itll costs about 1500 $/month. How about renting a small place for running a company, something big enough for 3-4 desks (300-350 sq ft)?
Raul
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#11 2011-05-20 11:17:02
- Paragon
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- From: Galle
- Registered: 2011-05-18
- Posts: 1
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
wisetalk wrote:
Well if you look at the Colombo area these days, cost of living is much higher than it used to be.
I would say that an average person would have daily expenses of about $80.
Are you saying you are spending $80 per day? That is $2,400 per month, much more than the average Europeans or American earn per month.
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#12 2011-05-20 11:26:46
- raulmonda
- Member
- From: Arad
- Registered: 2011-04-27
- Posts: 11
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
hi
yeah...hard to admit that u need 2400$/month. i know a family , living in Ragama, who pay 8000Rs for 2 rooms, kitchen and a dining room. But thats Ragama....
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#13 2011-08-03 18:58:01
- Adam from Perth
- Member
- From: Colombo
- Registered: 2011-08-01
- Posts: 13
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
I found a nice modern 3 bedroom house for less than $100 per month. Very safe beautiful area on Bolgoda Laka. The only issue is that its small, but a great house otherwise. Its just south of Moratuwa, so you can easily get into Colombo during traffic times in less than an hour.
The thing is that most places advertising for foreigners are highly overpriced - I might even say deliberately ripping them off. I know other larger places around this area and they are under $200 per month. If you search you can find a bargain.
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#14 2011-08-04 19:04:39
- online_nitin
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- From: NDelhi
- Registered: 2011-06-28
- Posts: 8
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
how far from clombo 10
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#15 2011-08-04 20:47:14
- Adam from Perth
- Member
- From: Colombo
- Registered: 2011-08-01
- Posts: 13
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
Roughly an hour in a 3 wheeler, or maybe a bit less. On average much better quality houses than Colombo 10.
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#16 2011-10-01 08:03:05
- walkedtheline
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- Registered: 2009-09-04
- Posts: 32
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
Paragon wrote:
wisetalk wrote:
Well if you look at the Colombo area these days, cost of living is much higher than it used to be.
I would say that an average person would have daily expenses of about $80.Are you saying you are spending $80 per day? That is $2,400 per month, much more than the average Europeans or American earn per month.
I can't believe those figures... You are so right, most people live in Europe and North America don't spend half of that amount ($2,400)!
Why anyone is not given the prices in a simpler way:
How much is a loaf bread, a pound of meat, a cake of butter, etc., and please be more realstic about renting; Remember, this website is here to help us!
Last edited by walkedtheline (2011-10-01 08:03:50)
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#17 2011-10-01 10:04:01
- Adam from Perth
- Member
- From: Colombo
- Registered: 2011-08-01
- Posts: 13
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
There are a lot of people who must be kings putting prices up. This $80 per day figure is incredibly unrealistic. Even this rambolanka character with $54 per day has some figures in his stats I just cant believe. Ill give you my rough comparisons:
Monthly rent 45,000 10,000 (I got a real bargain)
Petrol/Transport 30,000 15,000
Food 50,000 30,000
Staff wages 32,000 0
Electricity 8,000 2,000
Water 85 100
Gas 500 500
Clothes /Shopping 5,000 10,000
Mobile / Phones 15,000 1,500
TV 1,200 0
Internet 2,500 2,000
Total 189,285 71,100
Per day $54 $21
My rent is low because I am outside Colombo, but that makes my travel costs higher. You can find good apartments for 30,000 if you stay away from these people preying on foreigners. I do spend a lot on food because I buy lots of salads and they are overpriced, but you can eat very cheap if you have traditional Sri Lankan meals. My other figures are much more realistic, but if you use AC a lot then that creates high electricity bills.
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#18 2011-10-01 10:13:00
- Adam from Perth
- Member
- From: Colombo
- Registered: 2011-08-01
- Posts: 13
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
I might mention health insurance - I dont have it and I dont know the costs, but you should be covered by your travel insurance package.
Without insurance, stay away from the "western" hospitals. As soon as you walk in they see a walking white dollar sign, and will get you to have all these unnecessary tests. Go in for a leg complaint and they will order an ECG. Actually they do it on the locals too and there was a bit of an uproar in the papers recently. Then they will make you leave with countless numbers of useless overpriced medicines. A trip to the hospital for a night can easily cost over 100,000.
Same thing for a non-emergency visit - expect to pay through the nose for useless medicines and un-related tests. It is better to visit the ayurvedic hospitals and receive some effective treatments at a very low cost.
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#19 2011-10-01 17:21:14
- walkedtheline
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- Registered: 2009-09-04
- Posts: 32
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
Thank you Adam. Yes, $54/day also very high. Are your figurers in US Dollars...? And the one about hospitals too?
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#20 2011-10-01 18:14:25
- Adam from Perth
- Member
- From: Colombo
- Registered: 2011-08-01
- Posts: 13
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
Numbers without $ are LKR
Numbers with $ are USD
Go to xe.com for conversion rates.
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#21 2011-10-01 19:19:03
- walkedtheline
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- Registered: 2009-09-04
- Posts: 32
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
Thanks. Id the place you live in a house or apartment? And, the other expenses for two people?
I need to rent a house, it can be small -one or two bedroom - but prefer detached. Another issue is the security of course...
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#22 2011-10-02 20:26:36
- robinjaggi
- New member
- From: Chandigarh
- Registered: 2011-10-02
- Posts: 2
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
hi Adam,
Good to see the stats provided by you
Needed one help....
what would the rents be like in Mirigama...am planning to move there in a month's time from India with my Family.
Also, if you could help me understand the expenses for a family of 3
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#23 2011-10-02 20:38:16
- Adam from Perth
- Member
- From: Colombo
- Registered: 2011-08-01
- Posts: 13
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
Should be cheaper than my figures. Your rent will be similar, but food and transport much lower.
Actually I didnt mention that my expenses were for 2 people. For a family, you will have to guess how much extra based on your children. If they go to school close to your house then they can walk, otherwise you would spend a lot on transport. There are a lot of factors, but I think you can get by on 70,000 easily.
It is also worth considering that families in Sri Lanka can survive on incomes of 20,000 and 70,000 is considered a decent income. Some executive positions pay only 40-50,000/month.
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#24 2011-10-03 02:07:46
- walkedtheline
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- Registered: 2009-09-04
- Posts: 32
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
Thank you Adam, for replying to my questions kindly...
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#25 2011-10-03 18:47:09
- robinjaggi
- New member
- From: Chandigarh
- Registered: 2011-10-02
- Posts: 2
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
Thanks Adam for answering my querries
also, my wife is working in a bank in india....she would also like to be employed in SL
what are the opportunities she might have?
just to re-confirm, all figures provided by you are in SLR only
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#26 2011-10-03 19:02:57
- Adam from Perth
- Member
- From: Colombo
- Registered: 2011-08-01
- Posts: 13
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
First you need to have the correct visa. I am not sure of the reason why you are coming and what visa you and your family will have. This is an issue best answered by your visa issuer. It may be difficult to get employment here in this market as they always like to choose cheap young people. It gets difficult as you get older.
As mentioned before.
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#27 2012-02-09 08:38:54
- aravinda.SL
- New member
- From: Ambalangoda
- Registered: 2012-02-09
- Posts: 8
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
House Rent
( 2rooms + living + kitchen + bathroom,etc - around )- 120 $
Transport ( Train, Bus)(fair begins from ) - 0.07 $
Rent a car ( Sedan ) ( per day begins from ) - 30 $
( per month begins from ) - 350 $
Gasoline (1 liter of petrol ) - 1.5 $
(1 liter of diesel ) - 0.9 $
Electricity ( television, pc, a/c, household items ) - 35 $
Water ( washing machine, gardening ) - 5 $
Satellite Television ( per month ) - 27 $
Broadcast Television - free
Internet ( unlimited ADSL connection / 1 mbps ) - 17 $
LP Gas (13.7Kg) - 18$
Nanny (with cooking and cleaning) - 120$-200$
Clothes ( T-shirts / shirts ) - 10$ / 15$
Denim Trousers - 25 $
Mobile Phones (from) - 20 $
Prepaid Sim - 1 $
Pack of cigarettes ( 20 cig. ) - 4.4 $
Beer (650ml Bottle) - 1.5 $
Food ( good meal from a good restaurant ) - 5$-8 $
Food expenses for a month approx per 1 (by cooking) - 150 $
per 2 or 3 (by cooking in home) - 250$
1 liter of milk - 1.5$
1 Kg of Chicken - 4$
12 pack of Eggs - 2$
A loaf of Bread - .5$
1 Kg of Rice - .7 $
Gym ( per month) - 15$
Movies / cinema - 3$-6$
Karaoke Clubs / Dance Clubs ( entrance ) - 10$-20$
These are roughly expenses according to Galle/Ambalangoda area. But they would change by less amount in all island,.
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#28 2012-02-09 16:11:28
- Ravi Rohan
- Member
- From: Gampaha
- Registered: 2011-11-10
- Posts: 11
Re: Cost of living in Sri Lanka
From a foreigner's angle what Adam from Perth says is useful.You'd better follow him.The prices Aravinda gave are realistic.Why stay in Colombo?It's a noisy place.Within 20KMs from Colombo either on the Kandy road or Galle road you can get nice quiet accommodation for around Rs10000.Remember all over the world there are con men and con women.So use your brains.Recently i got tricked into parting away with $40 for a movie download site,[Moderated].Anyway i learnt a lesson from my $40.
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