🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $515 in Hikkaduwa versus $640 in Jiaxing.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $829 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,088 in Jiaxing.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,142 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,536 in Jiaxing.
🌍Living in Hikkaduwa costs roughly 19% less than in Jiaxing, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Hikkaduwa62% lower, Jiaxing53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hikkaduwa
Jiaxing
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.35LKR 1,426
$2.93¥19.67
48.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.55LKR 8,053
$22.07¥148
11.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.49LKR 2,458
$5.55¥37.25
34.95%
Cappuccino
$2.50LKR 820
$4.19¥28.13
-40.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68LKR 222
$0.48¥3.22
41.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25LKR 81.2
$0.29¥1.92
-13.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.31LKR 756
$0.73¥4.87
216.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08LKR 1,010
$2.19¥14.69
40.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hikkaduwa
Jiaxing
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62LKR 530
$1.86¥12.49
-12.90%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57LKR 188
$1.99¥13.36
-71.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.79LKR 260
$0.58¥3.89
36.21%
Eggs
$1.64LKR 537
$1.86¥12.47
-11.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.00LKR 4,264
$7.57¥50.8
71.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.04LKR 1,653
$3.35¥22.46
50.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.55LKR 2,476
$7.48¥50.2
0.94%
Apples(1kg)
$6.90LKR 2,263
$1.62¥10.84
325.93%
Banana(1kg)
$0.88LKR 288
$1.13¥7.60
-22.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.28LKR 1,405
$1.01¥6.76
323.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.29LKR 423
$0.70¥4.72
84.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04LKR 342
$0.53¥3.57
96.23%
Onion(1kg)
$0.81LKR 267
$0.85¥5.70
-4.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95LKR 311
$0.46¥3.09
106.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49LKR 160
$0.58¥3.89
-15.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.31LKR 3,382
$5.29¥35.46
94.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.76LKR 4,514
$12.01¥80.6
14.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.89LKR 618
$0.71¥4.73
166.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68LKR 880
$1.37¥9.19
95.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Hikkaduwa
Jiaxing
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.21¥1.41
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$16.55¥111
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.42LKR 137
$1.17¥7.82
-64.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37LKR 122
$0.40¥2.65
-7.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.88LKR 288
$7.27¥48.78
-87.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31LKR 431
$1.17¥7.86
11.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0KLKR 10.2M
$19.1K¥128.5K
61.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.0KLKR 13.8M
$19.0K¥127.8K
120.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hikkaduwa
Jiaxing
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$52.9LKR 17.3K
$36.90¥248
43.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.30LKR 1,411
$11.71¥78.6
-63.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.48LKR 6,718
$5.30¥35.57
286.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hikkaduwa
Jiaxing
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$36.56¥245
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$7.40¥49.69
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.38LKR 1,436
$5.11¥34.29
-14.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hikkaduwa
Jiaxing
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$37.60LKR 12.3K
$430¥2,886
-91.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,222LKR 400.8K
$12.8K¥86.2K
-90.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hikkaduwa
Jiaxing
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.32LKR 6,665
$34.82¥234
-41.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.74LKR 5,493
$21.78¥146
-23.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.6LKR 26.4K
$64.4¥432
25.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.03LKR 13.8K
$44.16¥296
-4.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hikkaduwa
Jiaxing
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$286¥1,921
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$178¥1,197
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$741¥4,969
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$452¥3,031
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,799¥25.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,088¥14.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hikkaduwa
Jiaxing
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$730¥4,896
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.69
3.13
305.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hikkaduwa: August 29, 2026
Last update for Jiaxing: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in Hikkaduwa vs $22.00 in Jiaxing for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $238 vs $175 per month, with Jiaxing cheaper across the board.
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
Hikkaduwa vs Jiaxing: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jiaxing cheaper than Hikkaduwa?
Hikkaduwa is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $773 in Hikkaduwa and $959 in Jiaxing to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Hikkaduwa and in Jiaxing?
Shoppers in Jiaxing pay roughly 36% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Hikkaduwa and in Jiaxing?
All in, you'll spend $515 per month in Hikkaduwa versus $640 in Jiaxing – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 enough for either Hikkaduwa or Jiaxing?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Hikkaduwa gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Hikkaduwa or in Jiaxing?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Hikkaduwa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Jiaxing. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.