Cost of living comparison
Colombo is 9.4% more expensive than Lusaka.
- Restaurants
-
pay 16.1% more in Colombo
- Groceries
-
pay 31.4% more in Colombo
- Transportation
-
pay 46.6% more in Colombo
- Housing
-
pay 9.8% less in Colombo
- Childcare
-
pay 87.4% less in Colombo
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 68.4% more in Colombo
- Clothing
-
pay 0.4% more in Colombo
The cost of entertainment and sports, transportation, groceries, restaurants, and clothing in Colombo are more expensive than in Lusaka. Expenses including childcare and housing are lower in Colombo.
If you lived in Colombo instead of Lusaka, you would:
pay 16.1% more for restaurants
|
Lusaka
|
Colombo
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$7.21
ZMW200.28
|
$3.40
LKR1,008.96
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$3.82
ZMW106.13
|
$7.48
LKR2,219.72
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.71
ZMW19.82
|
$0.74
LKR219.45
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.33
ZMW9.19
|
$0.39
LKR116.03
|
|
pay 31.4% more for groceries
|
Lusaka
|
Colombo
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.74
ZMW20.54
|
$0.57
LKR169.14
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.64
ZMW100.98
|
$6.94
LKR2,059.43
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.85
ZMW134.76
|
$6.54
LKR1,941.75
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.92
ZMW53.45
|
$2.22
LKR658.42
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.80
ZMW49.90
|
$2.38
LKR706.93
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.20
ZMW33.35
|
$3.28
LKR972.83
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.60
ZMW16.77
|
$0.51
LKR151.50
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.27
ZMW35.14
|
$2.65
LKR785.47
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.56
ZMW15.64
|
$0.53
LKR157.23
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.96
ZMW26.55
|
$0.51
LKR150.96
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.67
ZMW18.71
|
$0.55
LKR162.02
|
|
pay 46.6% more for transportation
|
Lusaka
|
Colombo
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.77
ZMW132.35
|
$4.84
LKR1,435.82
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$37.04
ZMW1,028.63
|
$6.80
LKR2,017.93
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$8,004.53
ZMW222,318.66
|
$35,303.89
LKR10,483,125.99
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$12.13
ZMW336.89
|
$3.13
LKR928.25
|
|
pay 9.8% less for housing
|
Lusaka
|
Colombo
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$125.92
ZMW3,497.29
|
$16.40
LKR4,869.45
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$214.42
ZMW5,955.40
|
$297.60
LKR88,368.35
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$114.96
ZMW3,192.88
|
$180.09
LKR53,474.94
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$83.50
ZMW2,319.19
|
$43.85
LKR13,019.76
|
|
pay 87.4% less for childcare
|
Lusaka
|
Colombo
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$176.79
ZMW4,910.17
|
$28.60
LKR8,492.11
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,570.42
ZMW182,487.69
|
$586.98
LKR174,298.37
|
|
pay 68.4% more for entertainment and sports
|
Lusaka
|
Colombo
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$0.97
ZMW26.85
|
$2.04
LKR605.38
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.07
ZMW57.59
|
$2.59
LKR769.25
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.49
ZMW69.13
|
$9.34
LKR2,774.65
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$41.21
ZMW1,144.63
|
$13.89
LKR4,123.17
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.50
ZMW97.19
|
$3.40
LKR1,008.96
|
|
pay 0.4% more for clothing
|
Lusaka
|
Colombo
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$18.43
ZMW512.01
|
$29.69
LKR8,816.32
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$18.78
ZMW521.71
|
$22.31
LKR6,625.52
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.18
ZMW2,504.57
|
$68.77
LKR20,420.53
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$82.76
ZMW2,298.62
|
$37.51
LKR11,137.40
|
|
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