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: $517 in Beruwala versus $233 in Matale.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $860 in Beruwala versus $377 in Matale.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,202 in Beruwala versus $521 in Matale.

Living in Beruwala is roughly 122% more expensive than in Matale, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Beruwala 61% lower, Matale 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.14 LKR 1,386

$1.31 LKR 440

216.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.13 LKR 8,419

$9.90 LKR 3,317

153.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.19 LKR 2,745

$5.08 LKR 1,703

61.22%

Cappuccino

$2.66 LKR 891

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

$0.69 LKR 230

$0.52 LKR 173

32.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 134

$0.28 LKR 94.8

42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.38 LKR 797

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 LKR 1,108

$2.00 LKR 670

65.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 LKR 600

$1.36 LKR 455

31.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 189

$0.51 LKR 170

9.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 275

$0.67 LKR 224

22.39%

Eggs

$2.14 LKR 718

$2.44 LKR 819

-12.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.17 LKR 4,747

$10.91 LKR 3,657

29.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 LKR 1,539

$4.09 LKR 1,371

12.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.02 LKR 2,687

$8.12 LKR 2,722

-1.23%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 LKR 2,537

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 357

$0.46 LKR 154

132.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.92 LKR 1,982

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 423

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 384

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 477

$0.48 LKR 161

195.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 403

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 LKR 199

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.23 LKR 3,428

Wine (Bottle)

$12.48 LKR 4,183

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 LKR 671

$1.82 LKR 610

9.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 LKR 964

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 130

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 120

$0.28 LKR 94.8

28.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 191

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 LKR 418

$1.25 LKR 420

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

$26.5K LKR 8.9M

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

$34.5K LKR 11.6M

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

$59.1 LKR 19.8K

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

$4.36 LKR 1,460

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.22 LKR 5,101

Cinema Ticket

$3.41 LKR 1,142

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

$37.04 LKR 12.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$442 LKR 148.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.58 LKR 9,240

$26.89 LKR 9,011

2.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.59 LKR 6,565

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.7 LKR 23.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.58 LKR 12.9K

$11.50 LKR 3,854

235.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.8 LKR 20.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.1 LKR 27.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$151 LKR 50.7K

$158 LKR 53.0K

-4.23%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Matale: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Matale pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $25.00 in Beruwala vs $10.00 in Matale for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 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

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 122% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 4% lower in Matale. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 112% 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 122% less than in Beruwala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.