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: $513 in Jaffna versus $655 in Bentota.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $697 in Jaffna versus $874 in Bentota.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $882 in Jaffna versus $1,093 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

$3.93 LKR 1,254

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.29 LKR 4,239

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 LKR 1,585

$8.57 LKR 2,734

-42.01%

Cappuccino

$3.30 LKR 1,051

$2.67 LKR 851

23.60%

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

$0.51 LKR 164

$0.74 LKR 237

-31.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 LKR 101

$0.41 LKR 130

-21.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.32 LKR 1,060

$2.30 LKR 735

44.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.81 LKR 2,172

$3.42 LKR 1,090

99.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LKR 569

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 LKR 158

$0.53 LKR 168

-5.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.71 LKR 228

$0.88 LKR 281

-19.32%

Eggs

$1.57 LKR 499

$2.12 LKR 675

-25.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.11 LKR 1,631

$13.82 LKR 4,406

-63.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.61 LKR 1,153

$3.59 LKR 1,145

0.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.65 LKR 2,120

$5.13 LKR 1,637

29.63%

Apples (1kg)

$3.99 LKR 1,272

$7.43 LKR 2,368

-46.30%

Banana (1kg)

$0.51 LKR 164

$0.88 LKR 280

-42.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.42 LKR 1,089

$5.76 LKR 1,838

-40.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 LKR 521

$1.02 LKR 325

59.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 358

$1.15 LKR 366

-2.61%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 LKR 248

$1.36 LKR 434

-42.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 LKR 219

$1.15 LKR 365

-40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 129

$0.56 LKR 180

-26.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.82 LKR 4,089

$9.87 LKR 3,146

29.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.93 LKR 6,037

$12.71 LKR 4,052

48.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 LKR 902

$2.00 LKR 637

41.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 LKR 951

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 LKR 109

$0.22 LKR 69.6

54.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.42 LKR 1,090

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 LKR 155

$0.41 LKR 132

19.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 104

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 195

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 LKR 328

$1.20 LKR 382

-14.17%

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

$27.2K LKR 8.7M

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

$50.1K LKR 16.0M

$34.2K LKR 10.9M

46.51%

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

$50.1 LKR 16.0K

$60.9 LKR 19.4K

-17.86%

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

$3.42 LKR 1,091

$2.48 LKR 790

37.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.09 LKR 3,219

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.52 LKR 2,080

Cinema Ticket

$2.00 LKR 637

$3.29 LKR 1,049

-39.21%

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

$36.66 LKR 11.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$449 LKR 143.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.60 LKR 12.9K

$27.82 LKR 8,870

45.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.42 LKR 6,194

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.1 LKR 22.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.52 LKR 12.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 LKR 52.5K

$241 LKR 76.9K

-31.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$153 LKR 48.6K

$150 LKR 48.0K

1.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$254 LKR 80.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$215 LKR 68.4K

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Bentota: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $165 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 $769 in Jaffna and $982 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: $165 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 35% higher in Bentota. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $513 per month in Jaffna versus $655 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.