Cost of Living Comparison Between Jaffna and Polonnaruwa Cost of Living Comparison Between Jaffna and Polonnaruwa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $506 per month in Jaffna vs $518 in Polonnaruwa, rent included.

A couple spends around $690 per month in Jaffna vs $855 in Polonnaruwa, rent included.

A family of three spends $875 per month in Jaffna vs $1,192 in Polonnaruwa, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.99 LKR 1,337

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.15 LKR 8,428

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.09 LKR 1,705

$8.33 LKR 2,790

-38.90%

Cappuccino

$3.41 LKR 1,142

$2.67 LKR 894

27.72%

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

$0.51 LKR 172

$0.68 LKR 227

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 LKR 107

$0.40 LKR 135

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.31 LKR 1,109

$2.29 LKR 767

44.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.89 LKR 2,307

$3.37 LKR 1,129

104.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 LKR 575

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 LKR 166

$0.53 LKR 177

-7.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.66 LKR 222

$0.82 LKR 275

-19.51%

Eggs

$1.57 LKR 527

$2.15 LKR 719

-26.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.88 LKR 1,635

$14.34 LKR 4,804

-65.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.62 LKR 1,214

$4.65 LKR 1,557

-22.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.57 LKR 2,201

$7.87 LKR 2,636

-16.52%

Apples (1kg)

$4.10 LKR 1,373

$7.44 LKR 2,493

-44.89%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 LKR 188

$1.07 LKR 360

-47.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.25 LKR 1,089

$5.72 LKR 1,915

-43.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.69 LKR 568

$1.21 LKR 406

39.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 358

$1.16 LKR 390

-7.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 256

$1.42 LKR 477

-46.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 LKR 230

$1.20 LKR 401

-42.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 LKR 145

$0.57 LKR 189

-24.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.55 LKR 4,205

$9.98 LKR 3,342

25.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.69 LKR 5,927

$12.40 LKR 4,155

42.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 LKR 953

$2.02 LKR 676

41.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 LKR 990

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 LKR 106

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.33 LKR 1,115

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 LKR 175

$0.39 LKR 129

33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 109

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 191

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 LKR 326

$1.19 LKR 400

-18.49%

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

$35.4K LKR 11.9M

44.78%

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

$50.8 LKR 17.0K

$60.6 LKR 20.3K

-16.21%

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

$3.42 LKR 1,147

$4.20 LKR 1,408

-18.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.37 LKR 5,151

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.74 LKR 2,259

Cinema Ticket

$1.97 LKR 659

$3.37 LKR 1,131

-41.54%

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

$37.12 LKR 12.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$436 LKR 145.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.80 LKR 13.7K

$27.64 LKR 9,263

47.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.24 LKR 6,446

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 55.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 LKR 51.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$251 LKR 84.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$216 LKR 72.4K

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 Polonnaruwa: July 25, 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 Polonnaruwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $506 in Jaffna, $518 in Polonnaruwa – roughly 2% apart. Polonnaruwa costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $759 per month in Jaffna and $776 in Polonnaruwa. 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 $518 in Polonnaruwa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 47% more in Polonnaruwa, 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 $518 in Polonnaruwa, 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, Polonnaruwa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.