Cost of Living Comparison Between Jaffna and Bentota Cost of Living Comparison Between Jaffna and Bentota

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $504 in Jaffna versus $670 in Bentota.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $704 in Jaffna versus $878 in Bentota.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $903 in Jaffna versus $1,087 in Bentota.

Living in Jaffna costs roughly 25% less than in Bentota, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jaffna 62% lower, Bentota 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.00 LKR 1,333

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.21 LKR 4,397

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.90 LKR 1,632

$8.62 LKR 2,869

-43.16%

Cappuccino

$3.39 LKR 1,128

$2.65 LKR 881

27.92%

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

$0.52 LKR 173

$0.70 LKR 232

-25.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 LKR 106

$0.37 LKR 124

-13.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.41 LKR 1,135

$2.28 LKR 761

49.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.64 LKR 2,212

$3.43 LKR 1,142

93.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 LKR 571

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 LKR 166

$0.55 LKR 185

-9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.70 LKR 233

$0.80 LKR 268

-12.50%

Eggs

$1.59 LKR 530

$2.21 LKR 734

-28.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.05 LKR 1,683

$14.07 LKR 4,685

-64.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.58 LKR 1,191

$3.75 LKR 1,248

-4.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.67 LKR 2,222

$4.89 LKR 1,627

36.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.99 LKR 1,328

$7.59 LKR 2,526

-47.43%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 LKR 187

$0.82 LKR 272

-31.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.44 LKR 1,146

$5.83 LKR 1,941

-40.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 LKR 540

$1.01 LKR 337

60.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 LKR 361

$1.12 LKR 372

-3.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 LKR 261

$1.42 LKR 475

-45.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 LKR 218

$1.14 LKR 379

-42.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 135

$0.61 LKR 202

-32.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.58 LKR 4,191

$9.99 LKR 3,327

25.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.66 LKR 5,881

$12.81 LKR 4,266

37.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 LKR 951

$2.02 LKR 671

41.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 LKR 973

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 LKR 115

$0.23 LKR 75.1

52.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.42 LKR 1,138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 LKR 160

$0.42 LKR 139

14.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 117

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 193

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 LKR 328

$1.21 LKR 404

-18.18%

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

$27.0K LKR 9.0M

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

$49.3K LKR 16.4M

$34.9K LKR 11.6M

41.31%

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

$50.7 LKR 16.9K

$60.5 LKR 20.1K

-16.27%

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

$3.29 LKR 1,095

$2.55 LKR 848

29.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.10 LKR 3,364

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.54 LKR 2,178

Cinema Ticket

$2.03 LKR 676

$3.32 LKR 1,107

-38.86%

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

$36.92 LKR 12.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$436 LKR 145.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.51 LKR 13.5K

$27.59 LKR 9,189

46.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.68 LKR 6,555

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.3 LKR 23.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.28 LKR 13.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$166 LKR 55.3K

$244 LKR 81.2K

-31.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$153 LKR 51.0K

$149 LKR 49.6K

2.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$252 LKR 83.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$219 LKR 72.8K

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 Jaffna: June 14, 2026

Last update for Bentota: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $166 in Jaffna and $244 in Bentota. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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

Jaffna vs Bentota: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jaffna is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $756 in Jaffna and $1,005 in Bentota 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: $166 in Jaffna versus $244 in Bentota. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 38% higher in Bentota. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $504 per month in Jaffna versus $670 in Bentota – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Jaffna 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, Jaffna and Bentota 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 Jaffna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Bentota. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.