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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $517 per month in Hatton vs $233 in Matale, rent included.

A couple spends around $847 per month in Hatton vs $377 in Matale, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,177 per month in Hatton vs $521 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 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.14 LKR 1,389

$1.31 LKR 441

216.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.22 LKR 8,462

$9.90 LKR 3,321

154.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 LKR 2,863

$5.08 LKR 1,705

67.91%

Cappuccino

$2.66 LKR 892

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

$0.69 LKR 231

$0.52 LKR 173

32.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 135

$0.28 LKR 94.9

42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 LKR 804

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 LKR 1,095

$2.00 LKR 671

63.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 LKR 600

$1.36 LKR 455

31.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 187

$0.51 LKR 170

9.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 270

$0.67 LKR 224

20.90%

Eggs

$2.19 LKR 735

$2.44 LKR 820

-10.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.02 LKR 4,706

$10.91 LKR 3,662

28.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.79 LKR 1,606

$4.09 LKR 1,373

17.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.95 LKR 2,667

$8.12 LKR 2,726

-2.09%

Apples (1kg)

$7.28 LKR 2,443

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 372

$0.46 LKR 154

141.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.71 LKR 1,916

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 LKR 405

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 386

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 477

$0.48 LKR 161

195.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 LKR 397

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 190

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.02 LKR 3,362

Wine (Bottle)

$12.68 LKR 4,255

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 LKR 669

$1.82 LKR 611

9.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 LKR 960

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 131

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 110

$0.28 LKR 94.9

17.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 206

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 LKR 416

$1.25 LKR 421

-0.80%

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

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

$61.0 LKR 20.5K

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

$4.30 LKR 1,442

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.23 LKR 5,110

Cinema Ticket

$3.42 LKR 1,146

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

$26.89 LKR 9,024

4.09%

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

$11.50 LKR 3,859

235.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.8 LKR 20.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.1 LKR 27.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$158 LKR 53.0K

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 Matale: July 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 $121 – 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 $776 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 111% 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 $517 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.