Cost of living comparison

compared to

Tripoli vs. Colombo Cost of Living Summary

Tripoli is 9.7% more expensive than Colombo.

Restaurants: pay 37.5% less in Tripoli
Groceries: pay 41.6% less in Tripoli
Transportation: pay 64.6% more in Tripoli
Housing: pay 1.6% less in Tripoli
Childcare: pay 70.2% more in Tripoli
Entertainment and Sports: pay 13.9% less in Tripoli
Clothing: pay 27.9% more in Tripoli

The cost of childcare, transportation, and clothing in Tripoli are more expensive than in Colombo. Expenses including groceries, restaurants, entertainment and sports, and housing are lower in Tripoli.

Tripoli vs. Colombo Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Tripoli instead of Colombo, you would:

Display currency: USD

pay 37.5% less for restaurants

	Colombo	Tripoli
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant	$4.13 LKR1,269.15	$4.63 LYD25.170	+12.1%
Fast food combo meal McDonalds, or similar	$8.26 LKR2,538.29	$3.70 LYD20.140	-55.2%
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz)	$0.76 LKR233.26	$0.48 LYD2.640	-36.1%
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz)	$0.36 LKR111.43	$0.11 LYD0.580	-70.7%
Average			-37.5%

Colombo vs. Tripoli - Cost of restaurants

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pay 41.6% less for groceries

	Colombo	Tripoli
Bread 1 loaf	$0.52 LKR160.10	$0.26 LYD1.440	-49.3%
Local cheese (8 oz)	$6.78 LKR2,083.94	$2.86 LYD15.550	-57.8%
Milk (1 gallon)	$6.70 LKR2,060.40	$3.88 LYD21.110	-42.1%
Eggs 1 dozen	$1.95 LKR600.76	$1.45 LYD7.900	-25.7%
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb)	$2.05 LKR629.94	$1.70 LYD9.240	-17.1%
Apples (1 lb)	$3.42 LKR1,051.88	$1.05 LYD5.730	-69.2%
Bananas (1 lb)	$0.50 LKR152.38	$0.64 LYD3.490	+29.5%
Oranges (1 lb)	$2.69 LKR826.88	$0.39 LYD2.110	-85.6%
Tomatoes (1 lb)	$0.55 LKR168.43	$0.27 LYD1.480	-50.2%
Potatoes (1 lb)	$0.51 LKR157.17	$0.33 LYD1.790	-35.7%
Onions (1 lb)	$0.58 LKR177.69	$0.26 LYD1.440	-54.2%
Average			-41.6%

Colombo vs. Tripoli - Cost of groceries

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pay 64.6% more for transportation

	Colombo	Tripoli
Gasoline (1 gallon)	$4.12 LKR1,264.88	$0.11 LYD0.570	-97.4%
Monthly public transit pass	$6.61 LKR2,030.64	$21.76 LYD118.300	+229.3%
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition)	$26,432.11 LKR8,122,543.83	$13,888.71 LYD75,511.690	-47.5%
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles)	$3.04 LKR934.09	$8.33 LYD45.310	+174.1%
Average			+64.6%

Colombo vs. Tripoli - Cost of transportation

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pay 1.6% less for housing

	Colombo	Tripoli
Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl	$14.01 LKR4,306.40	$30.71 LYD166.960	+119.1%
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area	$360.90 LKR110,903.96	$228.39 LYD1,241.750	-36.7%
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center	$177.21 LKR54,457.87	$109.57 LYD595.700	-38.2%
Utilities for two (700 sq ft apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating	$38.78 LKR11,916.86	$19.17 LYD104.210	-50.6%
Average			-1.6%

Colombo vs. Tripoli - Cost of housing

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pay 70.2% more for childcare

	Colombo	Tripoli
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly	$33.87 LKR10,407.01	$53.24 LYD289.460	+57.2%
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters	$505.51 LKR155,343.65	$925.91 LYD5,034.110	+83.2%
Average			+70.2%

Colombo vs. Tripoli - Cost of childcare

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pay 13.9% less for entertainment and sports

	Colombo	Tripoli
Domestic/local beer (1 pint)	$2.31 LKR710.72	$0.69 LYD3.780	-70.0%
Cappuccino in mid-range area	$2.67 LKR820.10	$0.51 LYD2.790	-80.8%
Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar	$10.24 LKR3,147.49	$1.94 LYD10.570	-81.0%
Monthly membership at local gym	$13.33 LKR4,097.53	$29.63 LYD161.090	+122.2%
Movie ticket to theater/cinema	$3.30 LKR1,015.32	$4.63 LYD25.170	+40.1%
Average			-13.9%

Colombo vs. Tripoli - Cost of entertainment and sports

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pay 27.9% more for clothing

	Colombo	Tripoli
Regular jeans Levi's brand	$26.56 LKR8,162.73	$22.96 LYD124.850	-13.6%
Regular dress from H&M or similar store	$17.76 LKR5,457.33	$35.86 LYD194.990	+101.9%
Running shoes Nike or Adidas	$67.21 LKR20,653.71	$50.77 LYD276.040	-24.5%
Men's business shoes (leather)	$38.07 LKR11,700.33	$56.25 LYD305.820	+47.7%
Average			+27.9%

Colombo vs. Tripoli - Cost of clothing

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: December 2025

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