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: $515 in Hikkaduwa versus $231 in Matale.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $829 in Hikkaduwa versus $379 in Matale.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,142 in Hikkaduwa versus $527 in Matale.

Living in Hikkaduwa is roughly 123% more expensive than in Matale, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hikkaduwa 62% lower, Matale 83% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.35 LKR 1,426

$1.80 LKR 592

141.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.55 LKR 8,053

$9.31 LKR 3,053

163.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.49 LKR 2,458

$4.49 LKR 1,473

66.82%

Cappuccino

$2.50 LKR 820

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

$0.68 LKR 222

$0.46 LKR 152

47.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 LKR 81.2

$0.22 LKR 71.9

13.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 LKR 756

$2.49 LKR 818

-7.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 LKR 1,010

$1.84 LKR 604

67.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 LKR 530

$1.49 LKR 488

8.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 LKR 188

$0.46 LKR 151

23.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 LKR 260

$0.65 LKR 212

21.54%

Eggs

$1.64 LKR 537

$1.68 LKR 553

-2.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.00 LKR 4,264

$9.58 LKR 3,141

35.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.04 LKR 1,653

$3.67 LKR 1,205

37.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.55 LKR 2,476

$7.35 LKR 2,410

2.72%

Apples (1kg)

$6.90 LKR 2,263

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 288

$0.56 LKR 183

57.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 LKR 1,405

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 LKR 423

$0.92 LKR 303

40.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 LKR 342

$0.52 LKR 172

100.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 267

$0.54 LKR 176

50.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 LKR 311

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 LKR 160

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.31 LKR 3,382

Wine (Bottle)

$13.76 LKR 4,514

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 LKR 618

$1.58 LKR 518

19.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 LKR 880

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 137

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 LKR 122

$0.25 LKR 82.7

48.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 LKR 288

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 LKR 431

$1.18 LKR 388

11.02%

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

$31.0K LKR 10.2M

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

$42.0K LKR 13.8M

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

$52.9 LKR 17.3K

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

$4.30 LKR 1,411

$3.86 LKR 1,267

11.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.48 LKR 6,718

Cinema Ticket

$4.38 LKR 1,436

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

$37.60 LKR 12.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,222 LKR 400.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.32 LKR 6,665

$23.90 LKR 7,839

-14.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.74 LKR 5,493

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.6 LKR 26.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.03 LKR 13.8K

$10.70 LKR 3,510

292.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$44.95 LKR 14.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$63.0 LKR 20.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$161 LKR 52.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Hikkaduwa: August 29, 2026

Last update for Matale: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Hikkaduwa vs $9.00 in Matale for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $238 vs $116 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 123% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $773 in Hikkaduwa and $346 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 105% 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 $9.00 versus $25.00 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 123% less than in Hikkaduwa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.