Cost of Living Comparison Between Matale and Beruwala Cost of Living Comparison Between Matale and Beruwala

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $232 in Matale versus $521 in Beruwala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $382 in Matale versus $865 in Beruwala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $532 in Matale versus $1,208 in Beruwala.

Living in Matale costs roughly 56% less than in Beruwala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Matale 83% lower, Beruwala 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.37 LKR 457

$4.14 LKR 1,378

-66.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.98 LKR 3,324

$24.85 LKR 8,275

-59.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 LKR 1,624

$8.27 LKR 2,753

-40.99%

Cappuccino

$2.77 LKR 921

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

$0.53 LKR 175

$0.70 LKR 232

-24.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 LKR 93.3

$0.37 LKR 125

-24.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 LKR 765

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 LKR 689

$3.26 LKR 1,085

-36.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 LKR 434

$1.73 LKR 575

-24.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 185

$0.57 LKR 189

-1.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.61 LKR 203

$0.88 LKR 293

-30.68%

Eggs

$2.34 LKR 779

$2.22 LKR 739

5.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.66 LKR 3,551

$14.23 LKR 4,738

-25.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.96 LKR 1,319

$4.74 LKR 1,580

-16.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.02 LKR 2,671

$8.18 LKR 2,724

-1.96%

Apples (1kg)

$7.63 LKR 2,539

Banana (1kg)

$0.47 LKR 156

$1.11 LKR 371

-57.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.74 LKR 1,911

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 415

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 387

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 LKR 153

$1.37 LKR 458

-66.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 LKR 396

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 186

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.20 LKR 3,398

Wine (Bottle)

$13.01 LKR 4,332

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 LKR 607

$2.10 LKR 700

-13.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 989

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 127

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 LKR 93.3

$0.33 LKR 109

-15.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 189

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 LKR 432

$1.26 LKR 421

3.17%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.8K LKR 8.9M

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

$34.6K LKR 11.5M

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

$59.0 LKR 19.6K

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

$4.35 LKR 1,447

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.38 LKR 5,123

Cinema Ticket

$3.34 LKR 1,111

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

$37.30 LKR 12.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$436 LKR 145.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.08 LKR 9,017

$27.53 LKR 9,168

-1.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.52 LKR 6,501

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.4 LKR 23.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$11.92 LKR 3,970

$38.76 LKR 12.9K

-69.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$60.9 LKR 20.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$82.2 LKR 27.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 LKR 54.1K

$148 LKR 49.3K

9.93%

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 Matale: June 14, 2026

Last update for Beruwala: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Matale pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $10.00 in Matale vs $25.00 in Beruwala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $119 vs $260 per month, with Matale cheaper across the board.

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

Matale vs Beruwala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Matale is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 125% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Matale pays 10% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 119% higher in Beruwala. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Matale – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $25.00 in Beruwala. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Matale gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Matale and Beruwala are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Matale gentler on the wallet – expenses run 125% less than in Beruwala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.