Cost of Living Comparison Between Anuradhapura and Matale Cost of Living Comparison Between Anuradhapura and Matale

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $496 per month in Anuradhapura vs $228 in Matale, rent included.

A couple spends around $831 per month in Anuradhapura vs $371 in Matale, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,167 per month in Anuradhapura vs $514 in Matale, rent included.

Anuradhapura costs about 117% more than Matale, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Anuradhapura and Matale are more affordable than the global median – Anuradhapura 63% lower, Matale 83% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 LKR 1,355

$1.37 LKR 462

194.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.97 LKR 8,391

$10.01 LKR 3,364

149.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.21 LKR 2,761

$4.97 LKR 1,671

65.19%

Cappuccino

$2.73 LKR 919

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 LKR 244

$0.55 LKR 185

30.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 135

$0.28 LKR 94.6

42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 LKR 765

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 LKR 1,134

$1.99 LKR 669

69.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 LKR 573

$1.38 LKR 463

23.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 LKR 185

$0.54 LKR 182

1.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 270

$0.62 LKR 208

29.03%

Eggs

$2.23 LKR 750

$2.45 LKR 824

-8.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.26 LKR 4,792

$10.90 LKR 3,661

30.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.72 LKR 1,587

$4.13 LKR 1,387

14.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.28 LKR 2,782

$7.89 LKR 2,652

4.94%

Apples (1kg)

$7.61 LKR 2,556

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 LKR 363

$0.47 LKR 159

129.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.69 LKR 1,912

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 LKR 402

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 374

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 LKR 472

$0.48 LKR 162

191.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 LKR 389

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 188

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.92 LKR 3,333

Wine (Bottle)

$12.49 LKR 4,197

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 LKR 703

$1.81 LKR 608

15.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 LKR 963

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 130

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 120

$0.28 LKR 95.2

28.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 206

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 407

$1.24 LKR 416

-2.42%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.1K LKR 9.1M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.0K LKR 11.8M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$27.06 LKR 9,094

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.41 LKR 1,147

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.08 LKR 5,068

Cinema Ticket

$3.41 LKR 1,146

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$37.37 LKR 12.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$447 LKR 150.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.71 LKR 9,312

$26.41 LKR 8,875

4.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.27 LKR 6,476

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.5 LKR 23.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.87 LKR 13.1K

$11.75 LKR 3,948

230.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.9 LKR 20.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$84.4 LKR 28.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$158 LKR 53.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Anuradhapura: July 12, 2026

Last update for Matale: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Anuradhapura versus $10.00 in Matale. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $121 – making Matale the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Anuradhapura vs Matale: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $496 in Anuradhapura, $228 in Matale – roughly 117% apart. Anuradhapura costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $744 per month in Anuradhapura and $342 in Matale. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Anuradhapura and $10.00 in Matale. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $496 in Anuradhapura and $228 in Matale. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $496 in Anuradhapura and $228 in Matale, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Matale – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Matale. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Anuradhapura makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.