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: $231 in Matale versus $582 in Hikkaduwa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $382 in Matale versus $1,118 in Hikkaduwa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $532 in Matale versus $1,654 in Hikkaduwa.

Living in Matale costs roughly 60% less than in Hikkaduwa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Matale 83% lower, Hikkaduwa 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.37 LKR 458

$3.97 LKR 1,324

-65.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.87 LKR 3,293

$25.53 LKR 8,515

-61.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.11 LKR 1,704

$8.54 LKR 2,850

-40.16%

Cappuccino

$2.71 LKR 903

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

$0.55 LKR 185

$0.74 LKR 248

-25.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 LKR 94.1

$0.32 LKR 106

-12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 773

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 LKR 653

$3.27 LKR 1,092

-40.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 LKR 438

$1.67 LKR 558

-21.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 173

$0.55 LKR 185

-5.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.66 LKR 220

$0.83 LKR 277

-20.48%

Eggs

$2.45 LKR 817

$2.15 LKR 716

13.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.60 LKR 3,536

$13.82 LKR 4,609

-23.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.11 LKR 1,370

$4.80 LKR 1,601

-14.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.02 LKR 2,673

$8.15 LKR 2,717

-1.60%

Apples (1kg)

$7.58 LKR 2,529

Banana (1kg)

$0.44 LKR 146

$0.32 LKR 106

37.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 LKR 903

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 LKR 328

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 386

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 LKR 153

$0.38 LKR 128

21.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 LKR 379

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 175

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.00 LKR 3,336

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 LKR 4,287

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 LKR 580

$2.10 LKR 702

-17.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 LKR 977

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 LKR 107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 127

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 LKR 94.2

$0.33 LKR 109

-15.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 193

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 LKR 417

$1.19 LKR 398

5.04%

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

$26.3K LKR 8.8M

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

$34.4K LKR 11.5M

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

$59.9 LKR 20.0K

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

$4.22 LKR 1,408

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.89 LKR 4,967

Cinema Ticket

$3.26 LKR 1,087

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

$37.16 LKR 12.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$435 LKR 145.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.55 LKR 8,853

$27.63 LKR 9,213

-3.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.41 LKR 6,473

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 LKR 23.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$11.92 LKR 3,975

$38.90 LKR 13.0K

-69.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 LKR 55.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$61.4 LKR 20.5K

$83.1 LKR 27.7K

-26.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,671 LKR 557.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.5 LKR 27.8K

$497 LKR 165.7K

-83.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$159 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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Hikkaduwa: May 31, 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 $119 vs $237 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 151% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $347 in Matale and $872 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 98% 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 151% less than in Hikkaduwa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.