Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Jaffna and Maharagama

For one person, living is cheaper in Maharagama: $131 a month against $275 in Jaffna, rent and utilities included – about $1,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Jaffna

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

$275

/mo nomad

Maharagama

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

$131

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Jaffna and in Maharagama

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Jaffna and in Maharagama actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $275 per month in Jaffna vs $131 in Maharagama, rent included.

Jaffna $275
Maharagama $131

A couple spends around $515 per month in Jaffna vs $246 in Maharagama, rent included.

Jaffna $515
Maharagama $246

A family of three spends $756 per month in Jaffna vs $361 in Maharagama, rent included.

Jaffna $756
Maharagama $361

Jaffna costs about 110% more than Maharagama, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Jaffna and Maharagama are more affordable than the global median – Jaffna 80% lower, Maharagama 90% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.06 LKR 354

$5.30 LKR 1,761

-80.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.86 LKR 12.9K

$20.24 LKR 6,733

92.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.44 LKR 1,478

$6.67 LKR 2,220

-33.43%

Cappuccino

$3.29 LKR 1,093

$2.11 LKR 702

55.92%

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

$1.67 LKR 556

$0.64 LKR 213

160.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 LKR 162

$0.29 LKR 95.3

68.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.46 LKR 1,150

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.11 LKR 2,033

Milk (1 liter)

$0.66 LKR 220

$0.87 LKR 288

-24.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 LKR 152

$0.23 LKR 76.1

100.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.61 LKR 203

$0.50 LKR 167

22.00%

Eggs

$1.15 LKR 382

$1.42 LKR 474

-19.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.63 LKR 1,540

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 LKR 982

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.06 LKR 2,017

Apples (1kg)

$3.52 LKR 1,172

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 LKR 196

Oranges (1kg)

$2.97 LKR 989

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 LKR 509

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 LKR 506

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 LKR 242

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 LKR 194

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 LKR 104

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.19 LKR 4,055

Wine (Bottle)

$18.34 LKR 6,099

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 LKR 977

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 LKR 104

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.06 LKR 1,018

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 LKR 146

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 LKR 83.8

$0.46 LKR 154

-45.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 LKR 412

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

$45.1K LKR 15.0M

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

$4.55 LKR 1,514

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.38 LKR 4,450

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 LKR 65.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$240 LKR 79.7K

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

Last update for Jaffna: November 2, 2026

Last update for Maharagama: October 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39 in Jaffna versus $20 in Maharagama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $169 vs $19 – making Maharagama the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇱🇰 Jaffna

🇱🇰 Maharagama

🕒 Local time

13:10 1:10 PM

Same time as Jaffna

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

600,000

196,400

💱 Currency

Sri Lankan Rupee LKR Rs

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD

1,000 LKR = 2.68 EUR

1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD

1,000 LKR = 2.68 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Jaffna Maharagama 310 km

From you

Jaffna
Maharagama

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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: $275 in Jaffna, $131 in Maharagama – Maharagama comes out roughly 52% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $412 per month in Jaffna and $196 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 in Jaffna and $20 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 $275 in Jaffna and $131 in Maharagama. That makes Maharagama about 52% cheaper.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $275 in Jaffna and $131 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 $131 in Maharagama to $275 in Jaffna. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.