Cost of Living Comparison Between Bentota and Jaffna Cost of Living Comparison Between Bentota and Jaffna

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $655 in Bentota versus $513 in Jaffna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $874 in Bentota versus $697 in Jaffna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,093 in Bentota versus $882 in Jaffna.

Living in Bentota is roughly 28% more expensive than Jaffna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bentota 51% lower, Jaffna 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.93 LKR 1,254

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.29 LKR 4,239

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.57 LKR 2,734

$4.97 LKR 1,585

72.43%

Cappuccino

$2.67 LKR 851

$3.30 LKR 1,051

-19.09%

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

$0.74 LKR 237

$0.51 LKR 164

45.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 130

$0.32 LKR 101

28.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 LKR 735

$3.32 LKR 1,060

-30.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 LKR 1,090

$6.81 LKR 2,172

-49.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LKR 569

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 168

$0.50 LKR 158

6.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 281

$0.71 LKR 228

23.94%

Eggs

$2.12 LKR 675

$1.57 LKR 499

35.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.82 LKR 4,406

$5.11 LKR 1,631

170.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.59 LKR 1,145

$3.61 LKR 1,153

-0.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.13 LKR 1,637

$6.65 LKR 2,120

-22.86%

Apples (1kg)

$7.43 LKR 2,368

$3.99 LKR 1,272

86.22%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 280

$0.51 LKR 164

72.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.76 LKR 1,838

$3.42 LKR 1,089

68.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 LKR 325

$1.63 LKR 521

-37.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 366

$1.12 LKR 358

2.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 LKR 434

$0.78 LKR 248

74.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 LKR 365

$0.69 LKR 219

66.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 180

$0.41 LKR 129

36.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.87 LKR 3,146

$12.82 LKR 4,089

-23.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.71 LKR 4,052

$18.93 LKR 6,037

-32.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 LKR 637

$2.83 LKR 902

-29.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 LKR 951

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 LKR 69.6

$0.34 LKR 109

-35.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.42 LKR 1,090

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 132

$0.49 LKR 155

-16.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 104

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 195

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 382

$1.03 LKR 328

16.50%

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

$27.2K LKR 8.7M

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

$34.2K LKR 10.9M

$50.1K LKR 16.0M

-31.74%

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

$60.9 LKR 19.4K

$50.1 LKR 16.0K

21.74%

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

$2.48 LKR 790

$3.42 LKR 1,091

-27.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.09 LKR 3,219

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.52 LKR 2,080

Cinema Ticket

$3.29 LKR 1,049

$2.00 LKR 637

64.50%

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

$36.66 LKR 11.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$449 LKR 143.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.82 LKR 8,870

$40.60 LKR 12.9K

-31.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.42 LKR 6,194

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.1 LKR 22.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.52 LKR 12.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 LKR 76.9K

$165 LKR 52.5K

46.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 LKR 48.0K

$153 LKR 48.6K

-1.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$254 LKR 80.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$215 LKR 68.4K

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 Bentota: April 27, 2026

Last update for Jaffna: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $241 in Bentota and $165 in Jaffna. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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

Bentota vs Jaffna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jaffna is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $982 in Bentota and $769 in Jaffna to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $241 in Bentota versus $165 in Jaffna. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Bentota. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $655 per month in Bentota versus $513 in Jaffna – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Jaffna gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Bentota and Jaffna are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Jaffna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Bentota. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.