Cost of Living Comparison Between Beruwala and Matale Cost of Living Comparison Between Beruwala and Matale

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $529 in Beruwala versus $233 in Matale.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $853 in Beruwala versus $382 in Matale.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,177 in Beruwala versus $531 in Matale.

Living in Beruwala is roughly 127% more expensive than Matale, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Beruwala 60% lower, Matale 83% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 LKR 1,270

$1.35 LKR 432

194.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.01 LKR 7,975

$9.95 LKR 3,173

151.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.52 LKR 2,718

$4.96 LKR 1,581

71.77%

Cappuccino

$2.71 LKR 865

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

$0.68 LKR 216

$0.52 LKR 166

30.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 120

$0.28 LKR 90.1

35.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 LKR 767

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 LKR 1,061

$2.02 LKR 646

64.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 LKR 561

$1.30 LKR 415

35.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 167

$0.52 LKR 164

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 259

$0.63 LKR 201

28.57%

Eggs

$2.21 LKR 705

$2.39 LKR 763

-7.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.12 LKR 4,504

$10.69 LKR 3,410

32.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.56 LKR 1,454

$3.95 LKR 1,259

15.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.96 LKR 2,540

$8.01 LKR 2,554

-0.62%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 LKR 2,444

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 340

$0.43 LKR 137

146.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.75 LKR 1,834

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 401

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 356

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 LKR 430

$0.49 LKR 155

175.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 LKR 362

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 181

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.98 LKR 3,181

Wine (Bottle)

$12.49 LKR 3,984

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 LKR 673

$1.75 LKR 559

20.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 LKR 934

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 124

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 105

$0.28 LKR 89.6

17.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 184

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 382

$1.31 LKR 417

-8.40%

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

$26.5K LKR 8.4M

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

$34.1K LKR 10.9M

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

$60.2 LKR 19.2K

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

$4.22 LKR 1,346

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.17 LKR 4,839

Cinema Ticket

$3.33 LKR 1,062

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

$36.65 LKR 11.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$447 LKR 142.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.45 LKR 8,755

$27.32 LKR 8,714

0.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.12 LKR 6,099

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.0 LKR 22.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.47 LKR 12.6K

$11.55 LKR 3,684

241.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$61.4 LKR 19.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.1 LKR 26.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$155 LKR 49.5K

$141 LKR 45.1K

9.81%

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 Beruwala: April 27, 2026

Last update for Matale: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Beruwala pays 10% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $25.00 in Beruwala vs $10.00 in Matale for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $257 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

Beruwala 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 127% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Beruwala pays 10% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 117% higher in Beruwala. 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 $25.00 in Beruwala. 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, Beruwala 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 127% less than in Beruwala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.