Cost of Living Comparison Between Jaffna and Hatton Cost of Living Comparison Between Jaffna and Hatton

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $499 per month in Jaffna vs $529 in Hatton, rent included.

A couple spends around $701 per month in Jaffna vs $866 in Hatton, rent included.

A family of three spends $903 per month in Jaffna vs $1,202 in Hatton, rent included.

Jaffna is about 6% cheaper than Hatton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jaffna and Hatton are more affordable than the global median – Jaffna 63% lower, Hatton 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.96 LKR 1,320

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.26 LKR 8,425

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.14 LKR 1,716

$8.43 LKR 2,812

-39.03%

Cappuccino

$3.33 LKR 1,110

$2.72 LKR 908

22.43%

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

$0.48 LKR 159

$0.70 LKR 232

-31.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 LKR 105

$0.38 LKR 125

-15.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.43 LKR 1,146

$2.30 LKR 767

49.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.56 LKR 2,188

$3.33 LKR 1,111

97.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 LKR 597

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 LKR 179

$0.52 LKR 175

3.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.68 LKR 226

$0.86 LKR 288

-20.93%

Eggs

$1.64 LKR 546

$2.19 LKR 732

-25.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.13 LKR 1,710

$13.96 LKR 4,655

-63.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.60 LKR 1,203

$4.55 LKR 1,518

-20.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.52 LKR 2,176

$7.91 LKR 2,638

-17.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.06 LKR 1,355

$7.55 LKR 2,520

-46.23%

Banana (1kg)

$0.53 LKR 177

$1.12 LKR 374

-52.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.44 LKR 1,147

$5.91 LKR 1,972

-41.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.70 LKR 568

$1.26 LKR 421

34.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 372

$1.15 LKR 385

-2.61%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 LKR 246

$1.37 LKR 456

-45.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 LKR 227

$1.19 LKR 397

-42.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 LKR 145

$0.59 LKR 197

-27.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.64 LKR 4,215

$9.92 LKR 3,307

27.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.88 LKR 5,965

$12.46 LKR 4,158

43.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.76 LKR 920

$2.01 LKR 670

37.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 LKR 945

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 LKR 106

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.28 LKR 1,094

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 LKR 161

$0.41 LKR 138

17.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 109

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 193

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 LKR 328

$1.21 LKR 403

-19.01%

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

$27.3K LKR 9.1M

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

$49.8K LKR 16.6M

$34.2K LKR 11.4M

45.45%

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

$49.28 LKR 16.4K

$59.5 LKR 19.8K

-17.16%

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

$3.38 LKR 1,129

$4.31 LKR 1,436

-21.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.17 LKR 5,059

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.72 LKR 2,242

Cinema Ticket

$1.99 LKR 665

$3.44 LKR 1,149

-42.15%

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

$36.88 LKR 12.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$434 LKR 144.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.39 LKR 13.5K

$27.77 LKR 9,262

45.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.53 LKR 6,515

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.7 LKR 23.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.32 LKR 12.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 LKR 55.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 LKR 50.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$250 LKR 83.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$214 LKR 71.4K

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Hatton: June 7, 2026

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 Hatton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Hatton is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $749 per month in Jaffna and $794 in Hatton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $499 in Jaffna and $529 in Hatton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 46% more in Hatton, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $499 in Jaffna and $529 in Hatton, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Jaffna – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Jaffna. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hatton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.