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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $518 per month in Hatton vs $513 in Jaffna, rent included.

A couple spends around $857 per month in Hatton vs $697 in Jaffna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,195 per month in Hatton vs $882 in Jaffna, rent included.

Hatton costs about 1% 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

$3.96 LKR 1,260

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.78 LKR 7,894

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.25 LKR 2,627

$4.97 LKR 1,583

66.00%

Cappuccino

$2.66 LKR 849

$3.30 LKR 1,050

-19.39%

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

$0.74 LKR 235

$0.51 LKR 164

45.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 120

$0.32 LKR 101

18.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 LKR 726

$3.32 LKR 1,059

-31.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 LKR 1,045

$6.81 LKR 2,170

-51.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 LKR 569

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 168

$0.50 LKR 158

6.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 LKR 273

$0.71 LKR 228

21.13%

Eggs

$2.11 LKR 673

$1.57 LKR 499

34.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.85 LKR 4,414

$5.11 LKR 1,630

171.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 LKR 1,506

$3.61 LKR 1,152

31.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.19 LKR 2,609

$6.65 LKR 2,118

23.16%

Apples (1kg)

$7.46 LKR 2,377

$3.99 LKR 1,271

86.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 357

$0.51 LKR 163

119.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.71 LKR 1,818

$3.42 LKR 1,088

66.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 403

$1.63 LKR 520

-22.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 LKR 351

$1.12 LKR 357

-1.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 LKR 448

$0.78 LKR 248

80.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 LKR 365

$0.69 LKR 219

66.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 180

$0.41 LKR 129

36.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.94 LKR 3,166

$12.82 LKR 4,085

-22.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.67 LKR 4,036

$18.93 LKR 6,031

-33.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 LKR 636

$2.83 LKR 901

-29.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 LKR 900

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 LKR 109

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.42 LKR 1,089

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 131

$0.49 LKR 155

-16.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 LKR 104

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 193

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 386

$1.03 LKR 328

17.48%

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

$27.3K LKR 8.7M

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

$34.3K LKR 10.9M

$50.1K LKR 16.0M

-31.60%

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

$60.5 LKR 19.3K

$50.1 LKR 15.9K

20.90%

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

$4.25 LKR 1,354

$3.42 LKR 1,090

24.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.86 LKR 4,736

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.52 LKR 2,078

Cinema Ticket

$3.25 LKR 1,037

$2.00 LKR 636

62.50%

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

$37.30 LKR 11.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$434 LKR 138.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.01 LKR 8,606

$40.60 LKR 12.9K

-33.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.08 LKR 6,079

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 LKR 22.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.15 LKR 12.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 LKR 52.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$153 LKR 48.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$254 LKR 80.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$215 LKR 68.4K

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Jaffna: April 26, 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 1%, 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 $777 per month in Hatton and $769 in Jaffna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $518 in Hatton and $513 in Jaffna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 45% 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 $518 in Hatton and $513 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.