Cost of Living Comparison Between Hatton and Matale Cost of Living Comparison Between Hatton and Matale

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $518 per month in Hatton vs $233 in Matale, rent included.

A couple spends around $857 per month in Hatton vs $382 in Matale, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,195 per month in Hatton vs $531 in Matale, rent included.

Hatton costs about 122% more than Matale, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hatton and Matale are more affordable than the global median – Hatton 61% lower, Matale 83% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.96 LKR 1,260

$1.35 LKR 432

193.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.78 LKR 7,894

$9.95 LKR 3,170

149.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.25 LKR 2,627

$4.96 LKR 1,580

66.33%

Cappuccino

$2.66 LKR 849

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

$0.74 LKR 235

$0.52 LKR 166

42.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 120

$0.28 LKR 90.0

35.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 LKR 726

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 LKR 1,045

$2.02 LKR 645

62.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 LKR 569

$1.30 LKR 415

37.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 168

$0.52 LKR 164

1.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 LKR 273

$0.63 LKR 201

36.51%

Eggs

$2.11 LKR 673

$2.39 LKR 762

-11.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.85 LKR 4,414

$10.69 LKR 3,407

29.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 LKR 1,506

$3.95 LKR 1,258

19.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.19 LKR 2,609

$8.01 LKR 2,551

2.25%

Apples (1kg)

$7.46 LKR 2,377

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 357

$0.43 LKR 137

160.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.71 LKR 1,818

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 403

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 LKR 351

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 LKR 448

$0.49 LKR 155

187.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 LKR 365

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 180

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.94 LKR 3,166

Wine (Bottle)

$12.67 LKR 4,036

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 LKR 636

$1.75 LKR 558

14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 LKR 900

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 131

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 LKR 104

$0.28 LKR 89.5

14.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 193

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 386

$1.31 LKR 417

-7.63%

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

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

$60.5 LKR 19.3K

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

$4.25 LKR 1,354

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.86 LKR 4,736

Cinema Ticket

$3.25 LKR 1,037

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

$27.32 LKR 8,706

-1.13%

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

$11.55 LKR 3,680

230.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$61.4 LKR 19.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.1 LKR 26.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$141 LKR 45.1K

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 Matale: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Hatton versus $10.00 in Matale. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $256 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

Hatton vs Matale: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Hatton is pricier by about 122%, 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 $350 in Matale. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 117% more in Hatton, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Hatton and $10.00 in Matale. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $518 in Hatton and $233 in Matale, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Matale – 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 Matale. 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.