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: $726 in Da Lat versus $535 in Kandy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,143 in Da Lat versus $854 in Kandy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,560 in Da Lat versus $1,173 in Kandy.

Living in Da Lat is roughly 36% more expensive than in Kandy, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Da Lat 46% lower, Kandy 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.15 ₫56.5K

$2.75 LKR 924

-21.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.91 ₫576.6K

$11.88 LKR 3,992

84.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.20 ₫163.1K

$6.36 LKR 2,138

-2.52%

Cappuccino

$1.60 ₫42.1K

$2.63 LKR 885

-39.16%

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

$0.98 ₫25.7K

$0.60 LKR 201

63.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₫9,974

$0.32 LKR 109

18.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 ₫47.2K

$2.13 LKR 716

-15.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 ₫64.3K

$3.37 LKR 1,134

-27.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 ₫39.6K

$1.41 LKR 473

6.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 ₫34.3K

$0.52 LKR 173

150.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ₫31.1K

$0.86 LKR 289

37.21%

Eggs

$1.63 ₫42.9K

$2.17 LKR 729

-24.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.85 ₫206.5K

$8.61 LKR 2,894

-8.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.91 ₫103.0K

$4.53 LKR 1,524

-13.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.42 ₫116.2K

$7.97 LKR 2,680

-44.54%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 ₫108.9K

$4.48 LKR 1,507

-7.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₫50.3K

$0.97 LKR 327

96.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.26 ₫85.9K

$3.77 LKR 1,266

-13.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 ₫42.8K

$1.21 LKR 405

33.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₫47.8K

$1.16 LKR 391

56.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.60 ₫42.1K

$1.25 LKR 420

28.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ₫19.9K

$0.78 LKR 262

-2.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₫15.3K

$0.56 LKR 188

3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.72 ₫45.3K

$9.28 LKR 3,119

-81.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.89 ₫207.7K

$11.47 LKR 3,854

-31.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₫18.5K

$2.10 LKR 705

-66.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₫54.8K

$2.74 LKR 921

-24.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 ₫8,821

$0.18 LKR 59.6

88.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.67 ₫175.7K

$15.28 LKR 5,136

-56.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₫16.0K

$0.39 LKR 130

56.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 ₫17.2K

$0.33 LKR 110

96.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 ₫73.5K

$0.43 LKR 146

548.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 ₫24.7K

$1.25 LKR 421

-24.80%

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

$35.1K ₫924.1M

$17.8K LKR 6.0M

97.68%

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

$32.3K ₫849.0M

$21.7K LKR 7.3M

48.88%

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

$39.49 ₫1.0M

$40.58 LKR 13.6K

-2.69%

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

$4.26 ₫112.0K

$4.37 LKR 1,470

-2.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.91 ₫392.5K

$15.38 LKR 5,170

-3.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.41 ₫563.5K

$14.79 LKR 4,970

44.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.87 ₫207.2K

$5.71 LKR 1,919

37.83%

Cinema Ticket

$1.90 ₫49.9K

$3.42 LKR 1,150

-44.44%

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

$267 ₫7.0M

$36.45 LKR 12.3K

632.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₫302.1M

$324 LKR 108.9K

3441.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.16 ₫1.1M

$27.66 LKR 9,298

45.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.92 ₫603.3K

$14.38 LKR 4,833

59.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.0 ₫2.3M

$56.1 LKR 18.8K

56.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.5 ₫2.0M

$30.16 LKR 10.1K

150.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$283 ₫7.4M

$136 LKR 45.9K

107.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$253 ₫6.7M

$83.4 LKR 28.0K

203.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₫16.9M

$219 LKR 73.6K

192.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$458 ₫12.0M

$161 LKR 54.2K

183.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$392 LKR 131.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$399 LKR 134.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$428 ₫11.3M

$261 LKR 87.6K

64.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.1

-39.33%

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

Last update for Da Lat: July 21, 2026

Last update for Kandy: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $283 in Da Lat and $136 in Kandy. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Da Lat pays 64% 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: $22.00 in Da Lat vs $12.00 in Kandy. Groceries flip the comparison at $191 vs $208, with Da Lat cheaper for home cooking.

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 36% in total monthly costs ($726 vs $535 including rent). Kandy is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 64% 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: $283 in Da Lat versus $136 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 $12.00 versus $22.00 in Da Lat. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $726 per month in Da Lat versus $535 in Kandy – a 36% 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 36% less than in Da Lat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.