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: $649 in Bentota versus $233 in Matale.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $865 in Bentota versus $377 in Matale.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,081 in Bentota versus $521 in Matale.

Living in Bentota is roughly 178% more expensive than in Matale, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bentota 51% lower, Matale 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.11 LKR 1,381

$1.31 LKR 441

213.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.59 LKR 4,559

$9.90 LKR 3,321

37.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.44 LKR 2,831

$5.08 LKR 1,705

66.14%

Cappuccino

$2.66 LKR 891

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

$0.73 LKR 246

$0.52 LKR 173

40.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 127

$0.28 LKR 94.9

35.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.38 LKR 797

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 LKR 1,113

$2.00 LKR 671

66.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LKR 597

$1.36 LKR 455

30.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 178

$0.51 LKR 170

3.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 272

$0.67 LKR 224

20.90%

Eggs

$2.22 LKR 745

$2.44 LKR 820

-9.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.88 LKR 4,657

$10.91 LKR 3,662

27.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.75 LKR 1,259

$4.09 LKR 1,373

-8.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.08 LKR 1,704

$8.12 LKR 2,726

-37.44%

Apples (1kg)

$7.50 LKR 2,517

Banana (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 291

$0.46 LKR 154

89.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.89 LKR 1,975

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 LKR 345

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 387

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 LKR 472

$0.48 LKR 161

193.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 404

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 189

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.10 LKR 3,388

Wine (Bottle)

$12.86 LKR 4,315

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 LKR 675

$1.82 LKR 611

10.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 LKR 990

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 LKR 68.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 139

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 119

$0.28 LKR 94.9

25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 194

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 LKR 417

$1.25 LKR 421

-0.80%

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

$26.3K LKR 8.8M

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

$34.1K LKR 11.5M

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

$61.1 LKR 20.5K

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

$2.49 LKR 834

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.93 LKR 3,332

Cinema Ticket

$3.40 LKR 1,142

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

$36.38 LKR 12.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$439 LKR 147.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.79 LKR 9,326

$26.89 LKR 9,024

3.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.16 LKR 6,430

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.0 LKR 23.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.05 LKR 12.8K

$11.50 LKR 3,859

230.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 LKR 80.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$153 LKR 51.4K

$59.8 LKR 20.1K

156.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.1 LKR 27.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$158 LKR 53.0K

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Matale: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $14.00 in Bentota vs $10.00 in Matale for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $121 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 178% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $974 in Bentota and $350 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 99% 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 $14.00 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 178% less than in Bentota. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.