Cost of Living Comparison Between Jaffna and Maharagama Cost of Living Comparison Between Jaffna and Maharagama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $496 per month in Jaffna vs $132 in Maharagama, rent included.

A couple spends around $782 per month in Jaffna vs $246 in Maharagama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,067 per month in Jaffna vs $360 in Maharagama, rent included.

Jaffna costs about 277% more than Maharagama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jaffna and Maharagama are more affordable than the global median – Jaffna 64% lower, Maharagama 90% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.04 LKR 343

$5.20 LKR 1,719

-80.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.49 LKR 13.1K

$20.09 LKR 6,642

96.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.60 LKR 1,522

$7.02 LKR 2,321

-34.47%

Cappuccino

$3.23 LKR 1,069

$2.13 LKR 705

51.64%

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

$1.69 LKR 558

$0.61 LKR 201

177.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 173

$0.29 LKR 94.3

79.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.66 LKR 1,209

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.96 LKR 1,972

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 LKR 235

$0.90 LKR 297

-21.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 LKR 162

$0.25 LKR 82.7

96.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.60 LKR 199

$0.51 LKR 168

17.65%

Eggs

$1.42 LKR 469

$1.44 LKR 476

-1.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.59 LKR 1,519

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 LKR 1,033

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.12 LKR 2,023

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 LKR 1,236

Banana (1kg)

$0.48 LKR 157

Oranges (1kg)

$3.06 LKR 1,010

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 LKR 499

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 LKR 336

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 LKR 212

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 LKR 206

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 LKR 130

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.56 LKR 3,823

Wine (Bottle)

$18.17 LKR 6,007

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 LKR 838

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 LKR 95.0

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.96 LKR 979

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 LKR 147

$0.45 LKR 148

-2.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 LKR 82.9

$0.48 LKR 159

-47.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 LKR 392

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

$45.8K LKR 15.2M

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

$46.32 LKR 15.3K

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

$2.96 LKR 979

$4.69 LKR 1,549

-36.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.87 LKR 4,587

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.25 LKR 2,067

Cinema Ticket

$1.86 LKR 617

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.70 LKR 12.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 LKR 49.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$139 LKR 46.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$230 LKR 76.1K

$200 LKR 66.1K

15.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 LKR 65.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$248 LKR 81.9K

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Jaffna: September 12, 2026

Last update for Maharagama: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Jaffna versus $20.00 in Maharagama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $19.00 – making Maharagama the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Maharagama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $496 in Jaffna, $132 in Maharagama – roughly 277% apart. Jaffna costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $744 per month in Jaffna and $198 in Maharagama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Jaffna and $20.00 in Maharagama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $496 in Jaffna and $132 in Maharagama. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $496 in Jaffna and $132 in Maharagama, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Maharagama has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $132 in Maharagama to $496 in Jaffna. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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