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: $515 in Hikkaduwa versus $909 in Sungai Petani.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $829 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,327 in Sungai Petani.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,142 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,746 in Sungai Petani.

Living in Hikkaduwa costs roughly 43% less than in Sungai Petani, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hikkaduwa 62% lower, Sungai Petani 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.35 LKR 1,426

$3.80 MYR 15.35

14.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.55 LKR 8,053

$19.72 MYR 79.7

24.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.49 LKR 2,458

$4.60 MYR 18.58

62.83%

Cappuccino

$2.50 LKR 820

$1.77 MYR 7.14

41.24%

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

$0.68 LKR 222

$0.78 MYR 3.14

-12.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 LKR 81.2

$0.36 MYR 1.44

-30.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 LKR 756

$4.17 MYR 16.86

-44.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 LKR 1,010

$2.98 MYR 12.06

3.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 LKR 530

$1.81 MYR 7.31

-10.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 LKR 188

$1.07 MYR 4.31

-46.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 LKR 260

$1.73 MYR 7.00

-54.34%

Eggs

$1.64 LKR 537

$2.13 MYR 8.62

-23.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.00 LKR 4,264

$9.81 MYR 39.68

32.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.04 LKR 1,653

$4.52 MYR 18.26

11.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.55 LKR 2,476

$8.93 MYR 36.09

-15.45%

Apples (1kg)

$6.90 LKR 2,263

$2.96 MYR 11.95

133.11%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 288

$1.68 MYR 6.79

-47.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 LKR 1,405

$2.54 MYR 10.25

68.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 LKR 423

$1.42 MYR 5.75

-9.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 LKR 342

$1.08 MYR 4.37

-3.70%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 267

$1.12 MYR 4.53

-27.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 LKR 311

$1.09 MYR 4.42

-12.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 LKR 160

$0.58 MYR 2.35

-15.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.31 LKR 3,382

$4.28 MYR 17.29

140.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.76 LKR 4,514

$19.15 MYR 77.4

-28.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 LKR 618

$3.01 MYR 12.17

-37.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 LKR 880

$4.03 MYR 16.30

-33.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 2.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.52 MYR 50.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 137

$1.77 MYR 7.17

-76.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 LKR 122

$0.41 MYR 1.67

-9.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 LKR 288

$7.63 MYR 30.83

-88.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 LKR 431

$0.49 MYR 1.96

167.35%

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

$31.0K LKR 10.2M

$42.5K MYR 171.7K

-27.01%

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

$42.0K LKR 13.8M

$35.3K MYR 142.8K

18.98%

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

$52.9 LKR 17.3K

$37.44 MYR 151

41.24%

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

$4.30 LKR 1,411

$9.93 MYR 40.16

-56.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.48 LKR 6,718

$20.08 MYR 81.2

1.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.27 MYR 167

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.70 MYR 27.10

Cinema Ticket

$4.38 LKR 1,436

$2.98 MYR 12.05

46.98%

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

$37.60 LKR 12.3K

$437 MYR 1,768

-91.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,222 LKR 400.8K

$11.0K MYR 44.6K

-88.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.32 LKR 6,665

$60.5 MYR 244

-66.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.74 LKR 5,493

$34.93 MYR 141

-52.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.6 LKR 26.4K

$73.0 MYR 295

10.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.03 LKR 13.8K

$70.5 MYR 285

-40.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 MYR 1,737

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$334 MYR 1,351

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$694 MYR 2,805

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 MYR 1,986

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,060 MYR 8,327

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,150 MYR 4,651

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$490 MYR 1,983

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

4.24

199.29%

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

Last update for Hikkaduwa: August 29, 2026

Last update for Sungai Petani: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Hikkaduwa vs $20.00 in Sungai Petani. Groceries flip the comparison at $238 vs $243, 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 76% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $773 in Hikkaduwa and $1,363 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Sungai Petani. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $515 per month in Hikkaduwa versus $909 in Sungai Petani – a 76% 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 76% less than in Sungai Petani. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.