Cost of Living Comparison Between Hikkaduwa and Sungai Petani Cost of Living Comparison Between Hikkaduwa and Sungai Petani

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $590 in Hikkaduwa versus $824 in Sungai Petani.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,125 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,254 in Sungai Petani.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,660 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,684 in Sungai Petani.

Living in Hikkaduwa costs roughly 28% less than in Sungai Petani, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hikkaduwa 56% lower, Sungai Petani 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.05 LKR 1,361

$3.07 MYR 12.57

31.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.51 LKR 8,571

$20.95 MYR 85.7

21.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.38 LKR 2,816

$4.16 MYR 17.01

101.44%

Cappuccino

$2.65 LKR 890

$1.66 MYR 6.80

59.64%

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

$0.72 LKR 243

$0.49 MYR 2.02

46.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 LKR 115

$0.25 MYR 1.02

36.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.33 LKR 783

$4.49 MYR 18.36

-48.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 LKR 1,114

$2.84 MYR 11.62

16.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 LKR 593

$1.82 MYR 7.44

-3.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 176

$0.68 MYR 2.80

-23.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 295

$1.25 MYR 5.12

-29.60%

Eggs

$2.22 LKR 747

$2.13 MYR 8.70

4.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.29 LKR 4,801

$14.89 MYR 60.9

-4.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 LKR 1,606

$3.60 MYR 14.73

32.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.87 LKR 2,645

$9.79 MYR 40.05

-19.61%

Apples (1kg)

$7.42 LKR 2,492

$2.91 MYR 11.91

154.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.32 LKR 107

$1.52 MYR 6.21

-78.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.75 LKR 923

$2.72 MYR 11.14

1.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 LKR 331

$2.10 MYR 8.59

-53.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 391

$1.18 MYR 4.84

-1.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.36 LKR 120

$1.16 MYR 4.76

-68.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 LKR 397

$0.90 MYR 3.69

31.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 190

$0.46 MYR 1.87

23.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.11 LKR 3,398

$3.99 MYR 16.33

153.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.67 LKR 4,258

$18.87 MYR 77.2

-32.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 LKR 694

$2.70 MYR 11.04

-23.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 LKR 985

$3.47 MYR 14.20

-15.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 LKR 115

$0.70 MYR 2.85

-51.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.96 MYR 48.94

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 140

$0.74 MYR 3.04

-43.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 118

$0.50 MYR 2.04

-30.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 203

$7.02 MYR 28.71

-91.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 422

$0.50 MYR 2.05

152.00%

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

$27.2K LKR 9.1M

$32.9K MYR 134.7K

-17.45%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.8M

$27.2K MYR 111.4K

29.40%

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

$61.4 LKR 20.6K

$39.01 MYR 160

57.27%

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

$4.28 LKR 1,438

$9.93 MYR 40.63

-56.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.20 LKR 5,107

$31.39 MYR 128

-51.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.48 MYR 149

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.92 MYR 24.22

Cinema Ticket

$3.26 LKR 1,096

$2.79 MYR 11.41

16.85%

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

$37.47 LKR 12.6K

$240 MYR 983

-84.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$440 LKR 147.8K

$6,266 MYR 25.6K

-92.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.50 LKR 9,239

$54.0 MYR 221

-49.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.44 LKR 6,531

$28.31 MYR 116

-31.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 LKR 23.4K

$62.3 MYR 255

12.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.04 LKR 13.1K

$53.8 MYR 220

-27.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$169 LKR 56.9K

$384 MYR 1,571

-55.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.5 LKR 28.1K

$270 MYR 1,106

-69.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,689 LKR 567.6K

$634 MYR 2,593

166.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$497 LKR 167.0K

$479 MYR 1,960

3.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,051 MYR 8,389

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,180 MYR 4,826

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 MYR 2,020

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

4.16

295.43%

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

Last update for Hikkaduwa: July 13, 2026

Last update for Sungai Petani: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $169 in Hikkaduwa and $384 in Sungai Petani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $26.00 in Hikkaduwa vs $21.00 in Sungai Petani. Groceries flip the comparison at $238 vs $249, with Hikkaduwa cheaper for home cooking.

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 Sungai Petani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hikkaduwa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $885 in Hikkaduwa and $1,236 in Sungai Petani 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $169 in Hikkaduwa versus $384 in Sungai Petani. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Sungai Petani. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $590 per month in Hikkaduwa versus $824 in Sungai Petani – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

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 Sungai Petani 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 Hikkaduwa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Sungai Petani. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.