Cost of Living Comparison Between Bentota and Matale Cost of Living Comparison Between Bentota and Matale

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $650 in Bentota versus $232 in Matale.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $877 in Bentota versus $373 in Matale.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,104 in Bentota versus $514 in Matale.

Living in Bentota is roughly 180% more expensive than Matale, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bentota 52% lower, Matale 83% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.96 LKR 1,323

$1.30 LKR 435

204.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.18 LKR 4,395

$10.12 LKR 3,376

30.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.27 LKR 2,759

$4.94 LKR 1,646

67.41%

Cappuccino

$2.64 LKR 879

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

$0.73 LKR 243

$0.53 LKR 176

37.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 126

$0.28 LKR 93.6

35.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 775

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 LKR 1,124

$1.97 LKR 656

71.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 LKR 573

$1.30 LKR 434

32.31%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 173

$0.50 LKR 168

4.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 289

$0.62 LKR 207

40.32%

Eggs

$2.13 LKR 710

$2.42 LKR 809

-11.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.29 LKR 4,768

$10.55 LKR 3,518

35.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.70 LKR 1,235

$4.05 LKR 1,352

-8.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.99 LKR 1,666

$7.95 LKR 2,653

-37.23%

Apples (1kg)

$7.69 LKR 2,564

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 292

$0.47 LKR 155

87.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.66 LKR 1,888

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 LKR 343

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 372

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 LKR 460

$0.45 LKR 150

206.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 401

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 LKR 185

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.86 LKR 3,290

Wine (Bottle)

$12.57 LKR 4,192

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 LKR 700

$1.74 LKR 582

20.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 LKR 962

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 LKR 66.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 129

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 110

$0.26 LKR 86.3

26.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 204

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 421

$1.24 LKR 413

1.61%

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

$27.1K LKR 9.0M

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

$34.3K LKR 11.4M

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

$59.1 LKR 19.7K

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

$2.49 LKR 831

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.17 LKR 3,392

Cinema Ticket

$3.40 LKR 1,134

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

$36.38 LKR 12.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$441 LKR 147.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.48 LKR 9,166

$26.57 LKR 8,862

3.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.29 LKR 6,436

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.7 LKR 23.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.85 LKR 13.0K

$11.83 LKR 3,947

228.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 LKR 80.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 LKR 50.8K

$61.2 LKR 20.4K

148.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.2 LKR 27.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$160 LKR 53.4K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Matale: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $13.00 in Bentota vs $10.00 in Matale for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $118 per month, with Matale cheaper across the board.

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 Matale: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Matale is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 180% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $975 in Bentota and $349 in Matale 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 104% higher in Bentota. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Matale – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $13.00 in Bentota. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Matale 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 Matale 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 Matale gentler on the wallet – expenses run 180% less than in Bentota. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.