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: $226 in Matale versus $499 in Beruwala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $370 in Matale versus $821 in Beruwala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $514 in Matale versus $1,143 in Beruwala.

Living in Matale costs roughly 55% less than in Beruwala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Matale 84% lower, Beruwala 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.82 LKR 599

$4.20 LKR 1,387

-56.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.78 LKR 2,896

$25.75 LKR 8,494

-65.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 LKR 1,432

$7.65 LKR 2,525

-43.27%

Cappuccino

$2.39 LKR 788

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

$0.49 LKR 161

$0.69 LKR 228

-28.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 LKR 79.4

$0.25 LKR 81.8

-4.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.46 LKR 811

$2.17 LKR 716

13.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 LKR 583

$3.04 LKR 1,004

-41.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 LKR 456

$1.59 LKR 526

-13.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.45 LKR 149

$0.47 LKR 154

-4.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.66 LKR 217

$0.75 LKR 247

-12.00%

Eggs

$1.65 LKR 543

$1.53 LKR 504

7.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.42 LKR 3,108

$12.74 LKR 4,203

-26.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.55 LKR 1,170

$4.87 LKR 1,607

-27.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.06 LKR 2,330

$6.89 LKR 2,272

2.47%

Apples (1kg)

$6.78 LKR 2,236

Banana (1kg)

$0.53 LKR 176

$0.84 LKR 277

-36.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.56 LKR 1,504

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 289

$1.23 LKR 404

-28.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 LKR 184

$0.94 LKR 309

-40.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 LKR 173

$0.73 LKR 241

-28.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 LKR 308

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 LKR 148

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.11 LKR 3,334

Wine (Bottle)

$13.21 LKR 4,358

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 LKR 530

$1.86 LKR 614

-13.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 LKR 842

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 135

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 LKR 82.9

$0.34 LKR 113

-26.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 LKR 303

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 LKR 367

$1.24 LKR 408

-10.48%

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

$29.6K LKR 9.8M

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

$39.1K LKR 12.9M

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

$51.3 LKR 16.9K

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

$3.65 LKR 1,203

$4.15 LKR 1,368

-12.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.72 LKR 6,834

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 LKR 1,404

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

$37.25 LKR 12.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,194 LKR 393.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.27 LKR 8,007

$19.84 LKR 6,545

22.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.66 LKR 5,496

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.2 LKR 26.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$10.38 LKR 3,423

$41.37 LKR 13.6K

-74.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$42.73 LKR 14.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$60.1 LKR 19.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$160 LKR 52.9K

$151 LKR 49.7K

6.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

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

Last update for Matale: August 18, 2026

Last update for Beruwala: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Matale pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $9.00 in Matale vs $26.00 in Beruwala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $113 vs $230 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 122% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 6% higher in Matale, 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 104% 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 $9.00 versus $26.00 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 122% less than in Beruwala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.