Cost of Living Comparison Between Matale and Hatton Cost of Living Comparison Between Matale and Hatton

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $233 per month in Matale vs $517 in Hatton, rent included.

A couple spends around $377 per month in Matale vs $847 in Hatton, rent included.

A family of three spends $521 per month in Matale vs $1,177 in Hatton, rent included.

Matale is about 55% cheaper than Hatton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Matale and Hatton are more affordable than the global median – Matale 82% lower, Hatton 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.31 LKR 441

$4.14 LKR 1,389

-68.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.90 LKR 3,321

$25.22 LKR 8,462

-60.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.08 LKR 1,705

$8.53 LKR 2,863

-40.45%

Cappuccino

$2.66 LKR 892

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

$0.52 LKR 173

$0.69 LKR 231

-24.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 LKR 94.9

$0.40 LKR 135

-30.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 LKR 804

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 LKR 671

$3.26 LKR 1,095

-38.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 LKR 455

$1.79 LKR 600

-24.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 LKR 170

$0.56 LKR 187

-8.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.67 LKR 224

$0.81 LKR 270

-17.28%

Eggs

$2.44 LKR 820

$2.19 LKR 735

11.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.91 LKR 3,662

$14.02 LKR 4,706

-22.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.09 LKR 1,373

$4.79 LKR 1,606

-14.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.12 LKR 2,726

$7.95 LKR 2,667

2.14%

Apples (1kg)

$7.28 LKR 2,443

Banana (1kg)

$0.46 LKR 154

$1.11 LKR 372

-58.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.71 LKR 1,916

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 LKR 405

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 386

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 LKR 161

$1.42 LKR 477

-66.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 LKR 397

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 190

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.02 LKR 3,362

Wine (Bottle)

$12.68 LKR 4,255

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 LKR 611

$1.99 LKR 669

-8.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 LKR 960

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 131

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 LKR 94.9

$0.33 LKR 110

-15.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 206

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 LKR 421

$1.24 LKR 416

0.81%

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

$26.5K LKR 8.9M

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

$34.5K LKR 11.6M

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

$61.0 LKR 20.5K

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

$4.30 LKR 1,442

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.23 LKR 5,110

Cinema Ticket

$3.42 LKR 1,146

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

$36.64 LKR 12.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$434 LKR 145.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.89 LKR 9,024

$27.99 LKR 9,394

-3.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.61 LKR 6,580

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 LKR 23.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$11.50 LKR 3,859

$38.58 LKR 12.9K

-70.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.8 LKR 20.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.1 LKR 27.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$158 LKR 53.0K

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Hatton: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $10.00 in Matale versus $25.00 in Hatton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $121 vs $256 – making Matale the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Hatton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Hatton is pricier by about 122%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $350 per month in Matale and $776 in Hatton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 111% more in Hatton, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $10.00 in Matale and $25.00 in Hatton. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $233 in Matale and $517 in Hatton, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Matale – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Matale. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hatton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.