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: $582 in Hikkaduwa versus $846 in Sungai Petani.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,118 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,285 in Sungai Petani.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,654 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,723 in Sungai Petani.

Living in Hikkaduwa costs roughly 31% less than in Sungai Petani, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hikkaduwa 57% lower, Sungai Petani 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 LKR 1,324

$3.13 MYR 12.47

26.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.53 LKR 8,515

$20.87 MYR 83.3

22.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.54 LKR 2,850

$4.36 MYR 17.39

95.87%

Cappuccino

$2.71 LKR 903

$1.70 MYR 6.78

59.41%

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

$0.74 LKR 248

$0.49 MYR 1.96

51.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 LKR 106

$0.25 MYR 1.00

28.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 773

$4.24 MYR 16.90

-45.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 LKR 1,092

$2.87 MYR 11.47

13.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 LKR 558

$1.83 MYR 7.32

-8.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 LKR 185

$0.68 MYR 2.71

-19.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 277

$1.25 MYR 5.00

-33.60%

Eggs

$2.15 LKR 716

$2.04 MYR 8.13

5.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.82 LKR 4,609

$15.08 MYR 60.2

-8.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 LKR 1,601

$3.52 MYR 14.06

36.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.15 LKR 2,717

$9.87 MYR 39.39

-17.43%

Apples (1kg)

$7.58 LKR 2,529

$2.92 MYR 11.64

159.59%

Banana (1kg)

$0.32 LKR 106

$1.44 MYR 5.73

-77.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 LKR 903

$2.70 MYR 10.78

0.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 LKR 328

$2.08 MYR 8.30

-52.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 386

$1.18 MYR 4.69

-1.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 LKR 128

$1.21 MYR 4.82

-68.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 LKR 379

$0.95 MYR 3.79

20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 175

$0.46 MYR 1.82

13.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.00 LKR 3,336

$4.08 MYR 16.27

145.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 LKR 4,287

$19.86 MYR 79.2

-35.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 LKR 702

$2.73 MYR 10.88

-23.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 LKR 977

$3.49 MYR 13.92

-16.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 LKR 107

$0.74 MYR 2.93

-56.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.62 MYR 46.36

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 127

$0.70 MYR 2.78

-45.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 109

$0.50 MYR 1.98

-34.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 193

$7.27 MYR 29.00

-92.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 LKR 398

$0.50 MYR 2.00

138.00%

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

$26.3K LKR 8.8M

$33.2K MYR 132.5K

-20.90%

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

$34.4K LKR 11.5M

$27.3K MYR 109.0K

25.80%

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

$59.9 LKR 20.0K

$38.81 MYR 155

54.42%

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

$4.22 LKR 1,408

$10.26 MYR 40.95

-58.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.89 LKR 4,967

$31.36 MYR 125

-52.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.11 MYR 148

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.95 MYR 23.73

Cinema Ticket

$3.26 LKR 1,087

$2.84 MYR 11.34

14.79%

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

$37.16 LKR 12.4K

$241 MYR 962

-84.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$435 LKR 145.0K

$6,305 MYR 25.2K

-93.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.63 LKR 9,213

$54.1 MYR 216

-48.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.41 LKR 6,473

$29.28 MYR 117

-33.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 LKR 23.1K

$61.0 MYR 243

13.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.90 LKR 13.0K

$52.3 MYR 209

-25.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 LKR 55.1K

$379 MYR 1,514

-56.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.1 LKR 27.7K

$273 MYR 1,091

-69.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,671 LKR 557.4K

$644 MYR 2,569

159.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$497 LKR 165.7K

$466 MYR 1,860

6.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,277 MYR 5,095

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$501 MYR 2,000

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$511 MYR 2,040

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sungai Petani: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $165 in Hikkaduwa and $379 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 $237 vs $251, 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 45% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $872 in Hikkaduwa and $1,269 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: $165 in Hikkaduwa versus $379 in Sungai Petani. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Sungai Petani. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $582 per month in Hikkaduwa versus $846 in Sungai Petani – a 45% 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 45% less than in Sungai Petani. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.