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: $590 in Hikkaduwa versus $228 in Matale.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,125 in Hikkaduwa versus $371 in Matale.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,660 in Hikkaduwa versus $514 in Matale.

Living in Hikkaduwa is roughly 158% more expensive than in Matale, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hikkaduwa 56% lower, Matale 83% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.05 LKR 1,361

$1.37 LKR 462

195.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.51 LKR 8,571

$10.01 LKR 3,364

154.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.38 LKR 2,816

$4.97 LKR 1,670

68.61%

Cappuccino

$2.65 LKR 890

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

$0.72 LKR 243

$0.55 LKR 185

30.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 LKR 115

$0.28 LKR 94.6

21.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.33 LKR 783

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 LKR 1,114

$1.99 LKR 669

66.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 LKR 593

$1.38 LKR 463

27.54%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 176

$0.54 LKR 182

-3.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 295

$0.62 LKR 208

41.94%

Eggs

$2.22 LKR 747

$2.45 LKR 824

-9.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.29 LKR 4,801

$10.90 LKR 3,661

31.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 LKR 1,606

$4.13 LKR 1,387

15.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.87 LKR 2,645

$7.89 LKR 2,652

-0.25%

Apples (1kg)

$7.42 LKR 2,492

Banana (1kg)

$0.32 LKR 107

$0.47 LKR 159

-31.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.75 LKR 923

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 LKR 331

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 391

Onion (1kg)

$0.36 LKR 120

$0.48 LKR 162

-25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 LKR 397

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 190

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.11 LKR 3,398

Wine (Bottle)

$12.67 LKR 4,258

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 LKR 694

$1.81 LKR 608

13.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 LKR 985

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 LKR 115

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 140

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 118

$0.28 LKR 95.2

25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 203

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 422

$1.24 LKR 416

1.61%

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

$27.2K LKR 9.1M

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

$35.2K LKR 11.8M

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

$61.4 LKR 20.6K

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

$4.28 LKR 1,438

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.20 LKR 5,107

Cinema Ticket

$3.26 LKR 1,096

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

$37.47 LKR 12.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$440 LKR 147.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.50 LKR 9,239

$26.41 LKR 8,873

4.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.44 LKR 6,531

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 LKR 23.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.04 LKR 13.1K

$11.75 LKR 3,948

232.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$169 LKR 56.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.5 LKR 28.1K

$59.9 LKR 20.1K

39.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,689 LKR 567.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$497 LKR 167.0K

$84.4 LKR 28.4K

488.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$158 LKR 53.2K

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Matale: July 14, 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 $238 vs $121 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 158% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $885 in Hikkaduwa and $342 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 96% 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 158% less than in Hikkaduwa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.