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 $456 in Maharagama, rent included.

A couple spends around $684 per month in Jaffna vs $781 in Maharagama, rent included.

A family of three spends $872 per month in Jaffna vs $1,106 in Maharagama, rent included.

Jaffna costs about 9% more than Maharagama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jaffna and Maharagama are more affordable than the global median – Jaffna 63% lower, Maharagama 66% lower.

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.09 LKR 1,712

Cappuccino

$3.43 LKR 1,152

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

$0.48 LKR 161

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 LKR 107

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.32 LKR 1,116

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.84 LKR 2,300

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 LKR 630

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 LKR 168

$0.48 LKR 160

4.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.71 LKR 237

$0.78 LKR 261

-8.97%

Eggs

$1.58 LKR 531

$2.05 LKR 690

-22.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 LKR 1,676

$16.31 LKR 5,482

-69.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 LKR 1,154

$5.73 LKR 1,927

-40.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.55 LKR 2,200

$10.68 LKR 3,587

-38.67%

Apples (1kg)

$4.07 LKR 1,367

$11.88 LKR 3,992

-65.74%

Banana (1kg)

$0.52 LKR 173

$1.25 LKR 419

-58.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.41 LKR 1,147

$10.23 LKR 3,437

-66.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 LKR 549

$1.88 LKR 632

-13.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 374

$1.19 LKR 399

-6.72%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 LKR 263

$1.15 LKR 385

-32.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 LKR 231

$1.57 LKR 529

-56.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 LKR 146

$0.62 LKR 207

-29.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.96 LKR 4,355

$9.65 LKR 3,241

34.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.81 LKR 5,986

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 LKR 962

$2.03 LKR 681

40.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 LKR 1,053

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 LKR 107

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.33 LKR 1,118

$3.29 LKR 1,107

1.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 LKR 172

$0.34 LKR 116

50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 LKR 96.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 LKR 342

$1.37 LKR 459

-25.55%

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

$50.1K LKR 16.8M

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

$49.29 LKR 16.6K

$54.5 LKR 18.3K

-9.63%

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

$3.27 LKR 1,099

$3.25 LKR 1,094

0.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.62 LKR 4,241

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.59 LKR 2,216

$13.31 LKR 4,473

-50.49%

Cinema Ticket

$2.03 LKR 681

$5.11 LKR 1,717

-60.27%

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

$67.8 LKR 22.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$510 LKR 171.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.62 LKR 13.3K

$25.18 LKR 8,462

57.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.63 LKR 4,579

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.3 LKR 18.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.3 LKR 19.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 LKR 55.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 LKR 50.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$247 LKR 83.1K

$166 LKR 55.9K

48.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$215 LKR 72.3K

$118 LKR 39.6K

82.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Jaffna: July 13, 2026

Last update for Maharagama: July 12, 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 Maharagama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $496 in Jaffna, $456 in Maharagama – roughly 9% 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 $684 in Maharagama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Public transport costs about 1% less in Maharagama. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $496 in Jaffna and $456 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 $456 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 $456 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.