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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $517 per month in Hatton vs $506 in Jaffna, rent included.

A couple spends around $847 per month in Hatton vs $690 in Jaffna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,177 per month in Hatton vs $875 in Jaffna, rent included.

Hatton costs about 2% more than Jaffna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hatton and Jaffna are more affordable than the global median – Hatton 61% lower, Jaffna 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.14 LKR 1,389

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.22 LKR 8,462

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 LKR 2,863

$5.09 LKR 1,708

67.58%

Cappuccino

$2.66 LKR 892

$3.41 LKR 1,143

-21.99%

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

$0.69 LKR 231

$0.51 LKR 172

35.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 135

$0.32 LKR 107

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 LKR 804

$3.31 LKR 1,111

-27.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 LKR 1,095

$6.89 LKR 2,311

-52.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 LKR 600

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 187

$0.49 LKR 166

14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 270

$0.66 LKR 223

22.73%

Eggs

$2.19 LKR 735

$1.57 LKR 528

39.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.02 LKR 4,706

$4.88 LKR 1,637

187.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.79 LKR 1,606

$3.62 LKR 1,215

32.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.95 LKR 2,667

$6.57 LKR 2,205

21.00%

Apples (1kg)

$7.28 LKR 2,443

$4.10 LKR 1,375

77.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 372

$0.56 LKR 188

98.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.71 LKR 1,916

$3.25 LKR 1,091

75.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 LKR 405

$1.69 LKR 569

-28.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 386

$1.07 LKR 359

7.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 477

$0.76 LKR 256

86.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 LKR 397

$0.69 LKR 230

71.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 190

$0.43 LKR 145

32.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.02 LKR 3,362

$12.55 LKR 4,211

-20.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.68 LKR 4,255

$17.69 LKR 5,936

-28.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 LKR 669

$2.85 LKR 955

-30.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 LKR 960

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 LKR 106

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.33 LKR 1,116

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 131

$0.52 LKR 176

-25.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 110

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 206

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 LKR 416

$0.97 LKR 327

27.84%

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

$26.5K LKR 8.9M

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

$34.5K LKR 11.6M

$51.2K LKR 17.2M

-32.74%

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

$61.0 LKR 20.5K

$50.8 LKR 17.0K

20.06%

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

$4.30 LKR 1,442

$3.42 LKR 1,148

25.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.23 LKR 5,110

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.74 LKR 2,262

Cinema Ticket

$3.42 LKR 1,146

$1.97 LKR 660

73.60%

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

$36.64 LKR 12.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$434 LKR 145.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.99 LKR 9,394

$40.80 LKR 13.7K

-31.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.61 LKR 6,580

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 LKR 23.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.58 LKR 12.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 LKR 56.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 LKR 51.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$251 LKR 84.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$216 LKR 72.5K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Jaffna: July 28, 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 2%, 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 $776 per month in Hatton and $759 in Jaffna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $517 in Hatton and $506 in Jaffna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 47% 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 $517 in Hatton and $506 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.