Cost of Living Comparison Between Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and Matale Cost of Living Comparison Between Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and Matale

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $526 per month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs $232 in Matale, rent included.

A couple spends around $868 per month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs $373 in Matale, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,210 per month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs $514 in Matale, rent included.

Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia costs about 126% more than Matale, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and Matale are more affordable than the global median – Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia 61% lower, Matale 83% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 LKR 1,328

$1.30 LKR 435

206.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.84 LKR 8,288

$10.12 LKR 3,376

145.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.48 LKR 2,829

$4.94 LKR 1,646

71.66%

Cappuccino

$2.75 LKR 916

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

$0.69 LKR 230

$0.53 LKR 176

30.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 LKR 115

$0.28 LKR 93.6

21.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 LKR 796

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 LKR 1,144

$1.97 LKR 656

74.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 LKR 567

$1.30 LKR 434

30.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 187

$0.50 LKR 168

12.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 269

$0.62 LKR 207

30.65%

Eggs

$2.16 LKR 719

$2.42 LKR 809

-10.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.09 LKR 4,701

$10.55 LKR 3,518

33.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 LKR 1,579

$4.05 LKR 1,352

16.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 LKR 2,630

$7.95 LKR 2,653

-0.88%

Apples (1kg)

$7.70 LKR 2,569

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 LKR 367

$0.47 LKR 155

134.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.84 LKR 1,949

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 LKR 403

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 388

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 LKR 477

$0.45 LKR 150

217.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 LKR 395

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 189

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.98 LKR 3,328

Wine (Bottle)

$12.84 LKR 4,284

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 LKR 692

$1.74 LKR 582

18.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 LKR 994

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 139

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 119

$0.26 LKR 86.3

38.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 200

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 LKR 416

$1.24 LKR 413

0.81%

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

$26.7K LKR 8.9M

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

$35.3K LKR 11.8M

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

$59.5 LKR 19.8K

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

$4.39 LKR 1,463

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.94 LKR 4,984

Cinema Ticket

$3.31 LKR 1,104

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

$36.93 LKR 12.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$448 LKR 149.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.64 LKR 9,221

$26.57 LKR 8,862

4.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.48 LKR 6,497

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.4 LKR 23.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.55 LKR 12.9K

$11.83 LKR 3,947

225.87%

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)

$205 LKR 68.5K

$160 LKR 53.4K

28.41%

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 Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia: June 9, 2026

Last update for Matale: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 28% higher in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia versus $10.00 in Matale. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $118 – making Matale the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs Matale: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia costs about 126% more than Matale, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $789 per month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and $349 in Matale. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $526 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and $232 in Matale. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 118% more in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $526 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and $232 in Matale, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Matale costs $232 versus $526 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Matale. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.