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: $533 in Beruwala versus $232 in Matale.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $855 in Beruwala versus $373 in Matale.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,177 in Beruwala versus $514 in Matale.

Living in Beruwala is roughly 129% 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

$3.91 LKR 1,304

$1.30 LKR 435

200.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.20 LKR 8,405

$10.12 LKR 3,376

149.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.35 LKR 2,785

$4.94 LKR 1,646

69.03%

Cappuccino

$2.70 LKR 901

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

$0.68 LKR 227

$0.53 LKR 176

28.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 136

$0.28 LKR 93.6

46.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.38 LKR 793

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 LKR 1,102

$1.97 LKR 656

67.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LKR 595

$1.30 LKR 434

36.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 LKR 184

$0.50 LKR 168

10.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 271

$0.62 LKR 207

30.65%

Eggs

$2.13 LKR 710

$2.42 LKR 809

-11.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.91 LKR 4,639

$10.55 LKR 3,518

31.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.75 LKR 1,586

$4.05 LKR 1,352

17.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.84 LKR 2,617

$7.95 LKR 2,653

-1.38%

Apples (1kg)

$7.37 LKR 2,460

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 354

$0.47 LKR 155

125.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.95 LKR 1,986

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 421

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 373

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 LKR 456

$0.45 LKR 150

204.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 LKR 398

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 200

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.03 LKR 3,347

Wine (Bottle)

$12.45 LKR 4,153

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 LKR 674

$1.74 LKR 582

16.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 LKR 958

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 128

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 117

$0.26 LKR 86.3

34.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 LKR 206

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 LKR 414

$1.24 LKR 413

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

$27.3K LKR 9.1M

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

$34.4K LKR 11.5M

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

$59.4 LKR 19.8K

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

$4.32 LKR 1,441

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.32 LKR 5,111

Cinema Ticket

$3.26 LKR 1,087

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

$37.24 LKR 12.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$439 LKR 146.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.08 LKR 9,365

$26.57 LKR 8,862

5.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.71 LKR 6,574

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 LKR 23.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.11 LKR 13.0K

$11.83 LKR 3,947

230.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$61.2 LKR 20.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.2 LKR 27.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$149 LKR 49.8K

$160 LKR 53.4K

-6.63%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Matale: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Matale pays 7% 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 $256 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 129% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Matale earns 7% less. 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 116% 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 129% less than in Beruwala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.