Cost of Living Comparison Between Hikkaduwa and Matale Cost of Living Comparison Between Hikkaduwa and Matale

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $582 in Hikkaduwa versus $231 in Matale.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,118 in Hikkaduwa versus $382 in Matale.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,654 in Hikkaduwa versus $532 in Matale.

Living in Hikkaduwa is roughly 151% more expensive than Matale, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hikkaduwa 57% lower, Matale 83% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 LKR 1,316

$1.37 LKR 455

189.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.53 LKR 8,466

$9.87 LKR 3,274

158.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.54 LKR 2,833

$5.11 LKR 1,694

67.12%

Cappuccino

$2.71 LKR 898

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

$0.74 LKR 246

$0.55 LKR 184

34.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 LKR 105

$0.28 LKR 93.5

14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 768

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 LKR 1,086

$1.96 LKR 649

66.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 LKR 555

$1.31 LKR 435

27.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 LKR 184

$0.52 LKR 172

5.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 275

$0.66 LKR 219

25.76%

Eggs

$2.15 LKR 712

$2.45 LKR 812

-12.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.82 LKR 4,583

$10.60 LKR 3,515

30.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 LKR 1,592

$4.11 LKR 1,362

16.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.15 LKR 2,702

$8.02 LKR 2,658

1.62%

Apples (1kg)

$7.58 LKR 2,515

Banana (1kg)

$0.32 LKR 106

$0.44 LKR 145

-27.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 LKR 897

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 LKR 326

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 384

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 LKR 127

$0.46 LKR 152

-17.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 LKR 377

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 174

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.00 LKR 3,317

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 LKR 4,262

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 LKR 698

$1.74 LKR 577

20.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 LKR 971

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 LKR 106

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 126

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 109

$0.28 LKR 93.7

17.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 192

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 LKR 396

$1.25 LKR 415

-4.80%

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

$26.3K LKR 8.7M

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

$34.4K LKR 11.4M

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

$59.9 LKR 19.9K

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

$4.22 LKR 1,400

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.89 LKR 4,939

Cinema Ticket

$3.26 LKR 1,081

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

$37.16 LKR 12.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$435 LKR 144.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.63 LKR 9,160

$26.55 LKR 8,802

4.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.41 LKR 6,435

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 LKR 23.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.90 LKR 12.9K

$11.92 LKR 3,952

226.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 LKR 54.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.1 LKR 27.5K

$61.4 LKR 20.4K

35.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,671 LKR 554.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$497 LKR 164.8K

$83.5 LKR 27.7K

495.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$159 LKR 52.7K

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 Hikkaduwa: May 31, 2026

Last update for Matale: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $26.00 in Hikkaduwa vs $10.00 in Matale for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $237 vs $119 per month, with Matale 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 Matale: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Matale is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 151% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $872 in Hikkaduwa and $347 in Matale 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 98% higher in Hikkaduwa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Matale – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $26.00 in Hikkaduwa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Matale gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Safety-wise, Hikkaduwa and Matale are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Matale gentler on the wallet – expenses run 151% less than in Hikkaduwa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.