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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $506 per month in Jaffna vs $517 in Hatton, rent included.

A couple spends around $690 per month in Jaffna vs $847 in Hatton, rent included.

A family of three spends $875 per month in Jaffna vs $1,177 in Hatton, rent included.

Jaffna is about 2% cheaper than Hatton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jaffna and Hatton are more affordable than the global median – Jaffna 62% lower, Hatton 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.14 LKR 1,389

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.22 LKR 8,462

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.09 LKR 1,708

$8.53 LKR 2,863

-40.33%

Cappuccino

$3.41 LKR 1,143

$2.66 LKR 892

28.20%

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

$0.51 LKR 172

$0.69 LKR 231

-26.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 LKR 107

$0.40 LKR 135

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.31 LKR 1,111

$2.40 LKR 804

37.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.89 LKR 2,311

$3.26 LKR 1,095

111.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 LKR 600

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 LKR 166

$0.56 LKR 187

-12.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.66 LKR 223

$0.81 LKR 270

-18.52%

Eggs

$1.57 LKR 528

$2.19 LKR 735

-28.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.88 LKR 1,637

$14.02 LKR 4,706

-65.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.62 LKR 1,215

$4.79 LKR 1,606

-24.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.57 LKR 2,205

$7.95 LKR 2,667

-17.36%

Apples (1kg)

$4.10 LKR 1,375

$7.28 LKR 2,443

-43.68%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 LKR 188

$1.11 LKR 372

-49.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.25 LKR 1,091

$5.71 LKR 1,916

-43.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.69 LKR 569

$1.21 LKR 405

39.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 359

$1.15 LKR 386

-6.96%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 256

$1.42 LKR 477

-46.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 LKR 230

$1.18 LKR 397

-41.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 LKR 145

$0.57 LKR 190

-24.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.55 LKR 4,211

$10.02 LKR 3,362

25.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.69 LKR 5,936

$12.68 LKR 4,255

39.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 LKR 955

$1.99 LKR 669

43.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 LKR 960

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 LKR 106

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.33 LKR 1,116

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 LKR 176

$0.39 LKR 131

33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 110

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 206

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 LKR 327

$1.24 LKR 416

-21.77%

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

$26.5K LKR 8.9M

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

$51.2K LKR 17.2M

$34.5K LKR 11.6M

48.67%

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

$50.8 LKR 17.0K

$61.0 LKR 20.5K

-16.71%

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

$3.42 LKR 1,148

$4.30 LKR 1,442

-20.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.23 LKR 5,110

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.74 LKR 2,262

Cinema Ticket

$1.97 LKR 660

$3.42 LKR 1,146

-42.40%

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

$36.64 LKR 12.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$434 LKR 145.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.80 LKR 13.7K

$27.99 LKR 9,394

45.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.61 LKR 6,580

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 LKR 23.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.58 LKR 12.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 LKR 56.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 LKR 51.1K

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 Hatton: July 27, 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 2%, 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 $759 per month in Jaffna and $776 in Hatton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $506 in Jaffna and $517 in Hatton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 47% 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 $506 in Jaffna and $517 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.