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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $456 per month in Maharagama vs $496 in Jaffna, rent included.

A couple spends around $781 per month in Maharagama vs $684 in Jaffna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,106 per month in Maharagama vs $872 in Jaffna, rent included.

Maharagama is about 8% cheaper than Jaffna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Maharagama and Jaffna are more affordable than the global median – Maharagama 66% lower, Jaffna 63% lower.

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.09 LKR 1,712

Cappuccino

$3.43 LKR 1,152

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

$0.48 LKR 161

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 LKR 107

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.32 LKR 1,116

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.84 LKR 2,299

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 LKR 629

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 LKR 160

$0.50 LKR 168

-4.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.78 LKR 261

$0.71 LKR 237

9.86%

Eggs

$2.05 LKR 690

$1.58 LKR 531

29.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.31 LKR 5,481

$4.99 LKR 1,675

226.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.73 LKR 1,927

$3.43 LKR 1,154

67.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 LKR 3,587

$6.55 LKR 2,199

63.05%

Apples (1kg)

$11.88 LKR 3,991

$4.07 LKR 1,367

191.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 419

$0.52 LKR 173

140.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$10.23 LKR 3,436

$3.41 LKR 1,146

200.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 LKR 632

$1.63 LKR 549

15.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 LKR 399

$1.11 LKR 373

7.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 385

$0.78 LKR 263

47.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 LKR 529

$0.69 LKR 231

127.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 LKR 207

$0.44 LKR 146

40.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.65 LKR 3,241

$12.96 LKR 4,354

-25.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.81 LKR 5,985

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 LKR 681

$2.86 LKR 962

-29.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 LKR 1,052

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 LKR 107

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.29 LKR 1,107

$3.33 LKR 1,118

-1.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.34 LKR 116

$0.51 LKR 172

-33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 LKR 96.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 LKR 459

$1.02 LKR 342

34.31%

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

$50.1K LKR 16.8M

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

$54.5 LKR 18.3K

$49.29 LKR 16.6K

10.65%

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

$3.25 LKR 1,094

$3.27 LKR 1,099

-0.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.62 LKR 4,240

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.31 LKR 4,472

$6.59 LKR 2,216

101.97%

Cinema Ticket

$5.11 LKR 1,717

$2.03 LKR 681

151.72%

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

$67.8 LKR 22.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$510 LKR 171.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.18 LKR 8,460

$39.62 LKR 13.3K

-36.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.63 LKR 4,578

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.3 LKR 18.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.3 LKR 19.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 LKR 55.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 LKR 50.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$166 LKR 55.8K

$247 LKR 83.0K

-32.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 LKR 39.6K

$215 LKR 72.3K

-45.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Maharagama: July 12, 2026

Last update for Jaffna: July 13, 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: $456 in Maharagama, $496 in Jaffna – roughly 9% apart. Jaffna costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $684 per month in Maharagama and $744 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 $456 in Maharagama and $496 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 $456 in Maharagama and $496 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 $456 in Maharagama to $496 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.