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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $499 per month in Jaffna vs $463 in Maharagama, rent included.

A couple spends around $699 per month in Jaffna vs $786 in Maharagama, rent included.

A family of three spends $900 per month in Jaffna vs $1,109 in Maharagama, rent included.

Jaffna costs about 8% more than Maharagama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jaffna and Maharagama are more affordable than the global median – Jaffna 63% lower, Maharagama 65% lower.

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 LKR 1,636

Cappuccino

$3.32 LKR 1,101

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

$0.52 LKR 172

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 LKR 114

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.44 LKR 1,139

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.61 LKR 2,193

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 LKR 614

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 LKR 166

$0.52 LKR 174

-3.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.67 LKR 221

$0.79 LKR 261

-15.19%

Eggs

$1.65 LKR 546

$2.04 LKR 677

-19.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.96 LKR 1,646

$15.89 LKR 5,268

-68.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 LKR 1,151

$5.75 LKR 1,906

-39.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.60 LKR 2,187

$11.04 LKR 3,660

-40.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 LKR 1,366

$11.82 LKR 3,918

-65.14%

Banana (1kg)

$0.57 LKR 188

$1.19 LKR 395

-52.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.25 LKR 1,078

$10.07 LKR 3,338

-67.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.70 LKR 563

$1.81 LKR 599

-6.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 370

$1.15 LKR 382

-2.61%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 LKR 258

$1.20 LKR 399

-35.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 LKR 216

$1.57 LKR 522

-58.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 135

$0.58 LKR 192

-29.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.80 LKR 4,245

$9.63 LKR 3,192

32.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.84 LKR 5,914

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 LKR 948

$2.03 LKR 672

40.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 LKR 1,024

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 LKR 105

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.43 LKR 1,137

$3.39 LKR 1,126

1.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 LKR 169

$0.32 LKR 105

59.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 LKR 94.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 LKR 336

$1.42 LKR 469

-28.87%

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

$51.2K LKR 17.0M

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

$50.8 LKR 16.8K

$53.4 LKR 17.7K

-4.87%

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

$3.37 LKR 1,117

$3.43 LKR 1,137

-1.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.48 LKR 4,139

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.81 LKR 2,257

$13.51 LKR 4,481

-49.59%

Cinema Ticket

$1.95 LKR 647

$5.07 LKR 1,681

-61.54%

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

$67.5 LKR 22.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$512 LKR 169.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.42 LKR 13.4K

$25.25 LKR 8,373

60.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.32 LKR 4,415

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.4 LKR 18.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.1 LKR 19.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 LKR 55.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 LKR 50.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$254 LKR 84.3K

$168 LKR 55.7K

51.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$217 LKR 72.1K

$116 LKR 38.4K

87.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Jaffna: May 31, 2026

Last update for Maharagama: May 31, 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: $499 in Jaffna, $463 in Maharagama – roughly 8% apart. Jaffna costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $748 per month in Jaffna and $694 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 $499 in Jaffna and $463 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 $499 in Jaffna and $463 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 $463 in Maharagama to $499 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.