Cost of Living Comparison Between Hatton and Jaffna Cost of Living Comparison Between Hatton and Jaffna

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Hatton vs $499 in Jaffna, rent included.

A couple spends around $866 per month in Hatton vs $701 in Jaffna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,202 per month in Hatton vs $903 in Jaffna, rent included.

Hatton costs about 6% more than Jaffna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hatton and Jaffna are more affordable than the global median – Hatton 61% lower, Jaffna 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.96 LKR 1,320

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.26 LKR 8,425

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 LKR 2,812

$5.14 LKR 1,716

64.01%

Cappuccino

$2.72 LKR 908

$3.33 LKR 1,110

-18.32%

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

$0.70 LKR 232

$0.48 LKR 159

45.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 125

$0.32 LKR 105

18.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 LKR 767

$3.43 LKR 1,146

-32.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 LKR 1,111

$6.56 LKR 2,188

-49.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 LKR 597

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 175

$0.54 LKR 179

-3.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 LKR 288

$0.68 LKR 226

26.47%

Eggs

$2.19 LKR 732

$1.64 LKR 546

33.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 LKR 4,655

$5.13 LKR 1,710

172.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.55 LKR 1,518

$3.60 LKR 1,203

26.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.91 LKR 2,638

$6.52 LKR 2,176

21.32%

Apples (1kg)

$7.55 LKR 2,520

$4.06 LKR 1,355

85.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 374

$0.53 LKR 177

111.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.91 LKR 1,972

$3.44 LKR 1,147

71.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 421

$1.70 LKR 568

-25.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 385

$1.12 LKR 372

2.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 LKR 456

$0.74 LKR 246

85.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 LKR 397

$0.68 LKR 227

75.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 LKR 197

$0.43 LKR 145

37.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.92 LKR 3,307

$12.64 LKR 4,215

-21.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.46 LKR 4,158

$17.88 LKR 5,965

-30.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 LKR 670

$2.76 LKR 920

-27.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 LKR 945

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 LKR 106

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.28 LKR 1,094

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 138

$0.48 LKR 161

-14.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 109

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 193

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 403

$0.98 LKR 328

23.47%

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)

$34.2K LKR 11.4M

$49.8K LKR 16.6M

-31.25%

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

$59.5 LKR 19.8K

$49.28 LKR 16.4K

20.72%

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

$4.31 LKR 1,436

$3.38 LKR 1,129

27.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.17 LKR 5,059

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.72 LKR 2,242

Cinema Ticket

$3.44 LKR 1,149

$1.99 LKR 665

72.86%

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

$36.88 LKR 12.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$434 LKR 144.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.77 LKR 9,262

$40.39 LKR 13.5K

-31.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.53 LKR 6,515

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.7 LKR 23.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.32 LKR 12.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 LKR 55.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 LKR 50.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$250 LKR 83.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$214 LKR 71.4K

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 Hatton: June 7, 2026

Last update for Jaffna: June 6, 2026

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

Hatton vs Jaffna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Hatton is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $794 per month in Hatton and $749 in Jaffna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $529 in Hatton and $499 in Jaffna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 46% more in Hatton, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $529 in Hatton and $499 in Jaffna, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Jaffna – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Jaffna. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hatton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.