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Colombo vs Kandy cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ฑ๐ฐ Colombo
๐ฑ๐ฐ Kandy
At a glance
- Where Kandy is clearly cheaper: Studio rent (month) (50%โ), Entry ticket (47%โ), Haircut (40%โ)
- Where Colombo is clearly cheaper: SIM card (43%โ), Laundry (20%โ), Street food (17%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Both cities are about equally easy to travel. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Colombo | Kandy | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | Rs 1,000$3.33 | Rs 900$3 | Kandy โ10% |
| Street food1 item | Rs 500$1.67 | Rs 600$2 | Colombo โ17% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | Rs 4,000$13.3 | Rs 3,500$11.7 | Kandy โ13% |
| Coffeeone cup | Rs 1,000$3.33 | Rs 900$3 | Kandy โ10% |
| Beerone bottle | Rs 1,000$3.33 | Rs 1,000$3.33 | similar |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | Rs 2,500$8.33 | Rs 2,000$6.67 | Kandy โ20% |
| Bottled water | Rs 80$0.27 | Rs 80$0.27 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | Rs 220$0.73 | Rs 180$0.6 | Kandy โ18% |
| Taxi5 km in town | Rs 600$2 | Rs 600$2 | similar |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | Rs 300$1 | Rs 350$1.17 | Colombo โ14% |
| Transitone ride | Rs 40$0.13 | Rs 40$0.13 | similar |
| Scooter rentalper day | Rs 3,000$10 | Rs 3,000$10 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | Rs 15,000$50 | Rs 15,000$50 | similar |
| Studio rent (month) | Rs 90,000$300 | Rs 45,000$150 | Kandy โ50% |
| Laundry | Rs 400$1.33 | Rs 500$1.67 | Colombo โ20% |
| SIM card1 week data | Rs 2,000$6.67 | Rs 3,500$11.7 | Colombo โ43% |
| Haircutcut | Rs 1,000$3.33 | Rs 600$2 | Kandy โ40% |
| Massage1 hour | Rs 6,000$20 | Rs 5,000$16.7 | Kandy โ17% |
| Half-day tourper person | Rs 8,000$26.7 | Rs 7,500$25 | Kandy โ6% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | Rs 3,750$12.5 | Rs 2,000$6.67 | Kandy โ47% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Colombo or Kandy?
Kandy is 14% cheaper than Colombo. Daily budget $86.7 vs $83.3; a month $1,268 vs $966.
Which is easier to travel, Colombo or Kandy?
About the same: Colombo 2.4/5, Kandy 2.4/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Colombo and Kandy?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Colombo is about $1,268 and Kandy about $966 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.