Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Lat and Kandy Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Lat and Kandy

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $607 in Da Lat versus $516 in Kandy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $916 in Da Lat versus $736 in Kandy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,225 in Da Lat versus $956 in Kandy.

Living in Da Lat is roughly 18% more expensive than in Kandy, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Da Lat 56% lower, Kandy 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.23 ₫57.7K

$2.75 LKR 904

-18.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.32 ₫397.2K

$12.92 LKR 4,246

18.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.00 ₫129.6K

$5.98 LKR 1,964

-16.39%

Cappuccino

$1.60 ₫41.4K

$1.99 LKR 654

-19.60%

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

$0.62 ₫16.0K

$0.51 LKR 167

21.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ₫8,691

$0.26 LKR 85.5

30.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.93 ₫24.2K

$1.86 LKR 612

-50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₫39.8K

$2.85 LKR 937

-45.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 ₫38.8K

$1.16 LKR 383

29.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₫32.5K

$0.49 LKR 161

155.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ₫30.9K

$0.78 LKR 258

52.56%

Eggs

$1.62 ₫41.9K

$1.60 LKR 527

1.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.84 ₫203.3K

$5.24 LKR 1,721

49.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.96 ₫102.7K

$4.30 LKR 1,412

-7.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.39 ₫113.8K

$6.89 LKR 2,265

-36.28%

Apples (1kg)

$4.13 ₫107.1K

$3.08 LKR 1,012

34.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 ₫49.6K

$0.89 LKR 292

115.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.17 ₫82.1K

$1.72 LKR 564

84.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ₫40.3K

$1.27 LKR 418

22.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.77 ₫45.8K

$0.99 LKR 326

78.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 ₫40.8K

$0.81 LKR 266

93.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ₫18.2K

$0.48 LKR 158

45.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ₫14.4K

$0.45 LKR 147

22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.68 ₫43.5K

$7.75 LKR 2,548

-78.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.83 ₫202.9K

$11.53 LKR 3,788

-32.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₫11.6K

$1.99 LKR 654

-77.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ₫55.0K

$2.04 LKR 669

3.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 ₫8,741

$0.16 LKR 53.3

112.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.68 LKR 1,538

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 ₫14.5K

$0.42 LKR 138

33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.12 ₫29.1K

$0.38 LKR 126

194.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 LKR 156

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 ₫22.9K

$1.12 LKR 368

-21.43%

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

$14.1K LKR 4.6M

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

$37.5K LKR 12.3M

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

$39.45 ₫1.0M

$55.1 LKR 18.1K

-28.36%

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

$4.42 ₫114.7K

$4.11 LKR 1,351

7.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.93 ₫387.0K

$12.67 LKR 4,164

17.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.64 ₫327.6K

$11.02 LKR 3,620

14.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.68 LKR 2,193

Cinema Ticket

$1.96 ₫50.8K

$2.89 LKR 950

-32.18%

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

$21.41 LKR 7,036

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$305 LKR 100.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.30 LKR 6,671

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.30 LKR 3,386

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.8 LKR 22.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.80 LKR 8,805

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$287 ₫7.4M

$174 LKR 57.0K

65.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 ₫7.2M

$116 LKR 38.1K

138.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$637 ₫16.5M

$177 LKR 58.2K

259.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$475 ₫12.3M

$97.0 LKR 31.9K

389.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$414 LKR 135.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$406 LKR 133.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$429 ₫11.1M

$263 LKR 86.5K

62.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Da Lat: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kandy: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $287 in Da Lat and $174 in Kandy. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Da Lat pays 63% 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: $15.00 in Da Lat vs $13.00 in Kandy for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $167 per month, with Kandy 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

Da Lat vs Kandy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Da Lat and Kandy differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($607 vs $516 including rent). Kandy is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 63% higher in Da Lat, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $287 in Da Lat versus $174 in Kandy. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Kandy – a meal for two runs $13.00 versus $15.00 in Da Lat. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $607 per month in Da Lat versus $516 in Kandy – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Kandy 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, Da Lat and Kandy 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 Kandy gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Da Lat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.