Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Maharagama and Jaffna

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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Maharagama

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

$131

/mo nomad

Jaffna

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

$275

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Maharagama and in Jaffna

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

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

Maharagama $131
Jaffna $275

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

Maharagama $246
Jaffna $515

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

Maharagama $361
Jaffna $756

Maharagama is about 52% cheaper than Jaffna, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.30 LKR 1,761

$1.06 LKR 354

400.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.24 LKR 6,733

$38.86 LKR 12.9K

-47.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 LKR 2,220

$4.44 LKR 1,478

50.23%

Cappuccino

$2.11 LKR 702

$3.29 LKR 1,093

-35.87%

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

$0.64 LKR 213

$1.67 LKR 556

-61.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 LKR 95.3

$0.49 LKR 162

-40.82%

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)

$0.87 LKR 288

$0.66 LKR 220

31.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.23 LKR 76.1

$0.46 LKR 152

-50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.50 LKR 167

$0.61 LKR 203

-18.03%

Eggs

$1.42 LKR 474

$1.15 LKR 382

23.48%

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)

$0.46 LKR 154

$0.25 LKR 83.8

84.00%

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 Maharagama: October 31, 2026

Last update for Jaffna: November 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Good to know

🇱🇰 Maharagama

🇱🇰 Jaffna

🕒 Local time

12:43 12:43 PM

Same time as Maharagama

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

196,400

600,000

💱 Currency

Sri Lankan Rupee LKR Rs

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD

1,000 LKR = 2.67 EUR

1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD

1,000 LKR = 2.67 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Maharagama Jaffna 310 km

From you

Maharagama
Jaffna

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

Maharagama vs Jaffna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $196 per month in Maharagama and $412 in Jaffna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20 in Maharagama and $39 in Jaffna. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $131 in Maharagama and $275 in Jaffna. That makes Maharagama about 52% cheaper.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $131 in Maharagama and $275 in Jaffna, 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.