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: $506 in Jaffna versus $649 in Bentota.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $690 in Jaffna versus $865 in Bentota.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $875 in Jaffna versus $1,081 in Bentota.

Living in Jaffna costs roughly 22% less than in Bentota, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jaffna 62% lower, Bentota 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.11 LKR 1,381

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.59 LKR 4,559

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.09 LKR 1,708

$8.44 LKR 2,831

-39.69%

Cappuccino

$3.41 LKR 1,143

$2.66 LKR 891

28.20%

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

$0.51 LKR 172

$0.73 LKR 246

-30.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 LKR 107

$0.38 LKR 127

-15.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.31 LKR 1,111

$2.38 LKR 797

39.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.89 LKR 2,311

$3.32 LKR 1,113

107.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LKR 597

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 LKR 166

$0.53 LKR 178

-7.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.66 LKR 223

$0.81 LKR 272

-18.52%

Eggs

$1.57 LKR 528

$2.22 LKR 745

-29.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.88 LKR 1,637

$13.88 LKR 4,657

-64.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.62 LKR 1,215

$3.75 LKR 1,259

-3.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.57 LKR 2,205

$5.08 LKR 1,704

29.33%

Apples (1kg)

$4.10 LKR 1,375

$7.50 LKR 2,517

-45.33%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 LKR 188

$0.87 LKR 291

-35.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.25 LKR 1,091

$5.89 LKR 1,975

-44.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.69 LKR 569

$1.03 LKR 345

64.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 359

$1.15 LKR 387

-6.96%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 256

$1.41 LKR 472

-46.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 LKR 230

$1.20 LKR 404

-42.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 LKR 145

$0.56 LKR 189

-23.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.55 LKR 4,211

$10.10 LKR 3,388

24.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.69 LKR 5,936

$12.86 LKR 4,315

37.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 LKR 955

$2.01 LKR 675

41.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 LKR 990

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 LKR 106

$0.20 LKR 68.5

60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.33 LKR 1,116

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 LKR 176

$0.41 LKR 139

26.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 119

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 194

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 LKR 327

$1.24 LKR 417

-21.77%

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

$26.3K LKR 8.8M

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

$51.2K LKR 17.2M

$34.1K LKR 11.5M

50.03%

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

$50.8 LKR 17.0K

$61.1 LKR 20.5K

-16.86%

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

$3.42 LKR 1,148

$2.49 LKR 834

37.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.93 LKR 3,332

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.74 LKR 2,262

Cinema Ticket

$1.97 LKR 660

$3.40 LKR 1,142

-42.06%

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

$36.38 LKR 12.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$439 LKR 147.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.80 LKR 13.7K

$27.79 LKR 9,326

46.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.16 LKR 6,430

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.0 LKR 23.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.05 LKR 12.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 LKR 56.0K

$241 LKR 80.9K

-30.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 LKR 51.1K

$153 LKR 51.4K

-0.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$251 LKR 84.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$216 LKR 72.5K

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Bentota: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $167 in Jaffna and $241 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 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $759 in Jaffna and $974 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: $167 in Jaffna versus $241 in Bentota. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Bentota. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $506 per month in Jaffna versus $649 in Bentota – a 28% 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 28% less than in Bentota. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.