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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Maharagama is about 7% cheaper than Jaffna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

$0.52 LKR 174

$0.50 LKR 166

4.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 LKR 261

$0.67 LKR 221

17.91%

Eggs

$2.04 LKR 677

$1.65 LKR 546

23.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 LKR 5,268

$4.96 LKR 1,646

220.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.75 LKR 1,906

$3.47 LKR 1,151

65.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.04 LKR 3,660

$6.60 LKR 2,187

67.27%

Apples (1kg)

$11.82 LKR 3,918

$4.12 LKR 1,366

186.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 LKR 395

$0.57 LKR 188

108.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$10.07 LKR 3,338

$3.25 LKR 1,078

209.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 LKR 599

$1.70 LKR 563

6.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 382

$1.12 LKR 370

2.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 LKR 399

$0.78 LKR 258

53.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 LKR 522

$0.65 LKR 216

141.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 LKR 192

$0.41 LKR 135

41.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.63 LKR 3,192

$12.80 LKR 4,245

-24.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.84 LKR 5,914

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 LKR 672

$2.86 LKR 948

-29.02%

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)

$3.39 LKR 1,126

$3.43 LKR 1,137

-1.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.32 LKR 105

$0.51 LKR 169

-37.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 LKR 94.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 LKR 469

$1.01 LKR 336

40.59%

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)

$53.4 LKR 17.7K

$50.8 LKR 16.8K

5.12%

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

$3.43 LKR 1,137

$3.37 LKR 1,117

1.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.48 LKR 4,139

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.51 LKR 4,481

$6.81 LKR 2,257

98.38%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 LKR 1,681

$1.95 LKR 647

160.00%

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)

$25.25 LKR 8,373

$40.42 LKR 13.4K

-37.53%

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)

$168 LKR 55.7K

$254 LKR 84.3K

-33.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 LKR 38.4K

$217 LKR 72.1K

-46.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Maharagama: May 31, 2026

Last update for Jaffna: 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

Maharagama vs Jaffna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $463 in Maharagama, $499 in Jaffna – roughly 8% apart. Jaffna costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

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