Cost of Living Comparison Between Matale and Hikkaduwa Cost of Living Comparison Between Matale and Hikkaduwa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $228 in Matale versus $590 in Hikkaduwa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $371 in Matale versus $1,125 in Hikkaduwa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $514 in Matale versus $1,660 in Hikkaduwa.

Living in Matale costs roughly 61% less than in Hikkaduwa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Matale 83% lower, Hikkaduwa 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.37 LKR 462

$4.05 LKR 1,361

-66.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.01 LKR 3,364

$25.51 LKR 8,572

-60.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 LKR 1,671

$8.38 LKR 2,816

-40.69%

Cappuccino

$2.65 LKR 891

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

$0.55 LKR 185

$0.72 LKR 243

-23.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 LKR 94.6

$0.34 LKR 115

-17.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.33 LKR 783

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 LKR 669

$3.32 LKR 1,114

-40.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 LKR 463

$1.76 LKR 593

-21.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 LKR 182

$0.52 LKR 176

3.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.62 LKR 208

$0.88 LKR 295

-29.55%

Eggs

$2.45 LKR 824

$2.22 LKR 747

10.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.90 LKR 3,661

$14.29 LKR 4,802

-23.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.13 LKR 1,387

$4.78 LKR 1,606

-13.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.89 LKR 2,652

$7.87 LKR 2,645

0.25%

Apples (1kg)

$7.42 LKR 2,492

Banana (1kg)

$0.47 LKR 159

$0.32 LKR 107

46.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.75 LKR 923

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 LKR 331

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 391

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 LKR 162

$0.36 LKR 121

33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 LKR 397

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 190

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.11 LKR 3,399

Wine (Bottle)

$12.67 LKR 4,258

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 LKR 608

$2.06 LKR 694

-12.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 LKR 985

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 LKR 115

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 141

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 LKR 95.2

$0.35 LKR 118

-20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 203

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 LKR 416

$1.26 LKR 423

-1.59%

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

$27.2K LKR 9.1M

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

$35.2K LKR 11.8M

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

$61.4 LKR 20.6K

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

$4.28 LKR 1,438

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.20 LKR 5,108

Cinema Ticket

$3.26 LKR 1,096

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

$37.47 LKR 12.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$440 LKR 147.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.41 LKR 8,875

$27.50 LKR 9,240

-3.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.44 LKR 6,532

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 LKR 23.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$11.75 LKR 3,948

$39.04 LKR 13.1K

-69.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$169 LKR 56.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.9 LKR 20.1K

$83.5 LKR 28.1K

-28.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,689 LKR 567.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$84.4 LKR 28.4K

$497 LKR 167.0K

-83.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$158 LKR 53.2K

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 14, 2026

Last update for Hikkaduwa: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $10.00 in Matale vs $26.00 in Hikkaduwa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $121 vs $238 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 Hikkaduwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Matale is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 158% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $342 in Matale and $885 in Hikkaduwa to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 96% higher in Hikkaduwa. 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 $26.00 in Hikkaduwa. 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 Hikkaduwa 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 158% less than in Hikkaduwa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.