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 $503 in Hikkaduwa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $376 in Matale versus $817 in Hikkaduwa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $523 in Matale versus $1,131 in Hikkaduwa.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Matale 83% lower, Hikkaduwa 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.88 LKR 619

$4.30 LKR 1,412

-56.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.07 LKR 2,979

$26.12 LKR 8,582

-65.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.61 LKR 1,514

$7.65 LKR 2,514

-39.74%

Cappuccino

$2.55 LKR 838

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

$0.50 LKR 165

$0.70 LKR 229

-28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 LKR 72.0

$0.27 LKR 89.4

-18.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 LKR 779

$2.29 LKR 751

3.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 LKR 614

$3.11 LKR 1,023

-39.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 LKR 466

$1.62 LKR 531

-12.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 LKR 150

$0.54 LKR 177

-14.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.67 LKR 221

$0.76 LKR 249

-11.84%

Eggs

$1.67 LKR 549

$1.66 LKR 544

0.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.04 LKR 3,300

$13.08 LKR 4,299

-23.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.59 LKR 1,181

$5.17 LKR 1,700

-30.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.36 LKR 2,417

$7.22 LKR 2,373

1.94%

Apples (1kg)

$6.66 LKR 2,187

Banana (1kg)

$0.51 LKR 166

$0.89 LKR 291

-42.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.16 LKR 1,366

Tomato (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 286

$1.27 LKR 418

-31.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 LKR 187

$1.02 LKR 334

-44.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 LKR 189

$0.82 LKR 269

-29.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 LKR 292

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 LKR 151

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.45 LKR 3,433

Wine (Bottle)

$13.62 LKR 4,476

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 LKR 523

$1.90 LKR 625

-16.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 LKR 915

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 136

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 LKR 75.3

$0.35 LKR 116

-34.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 LKR 306

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 LKR 392

$1.29 LKR 424

-7.75%

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

$30.3K LKR 10.0M

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

$42.5K LKR 14.0M

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

$54.8 LKR 18.0K

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

$3.87 LKR 1,272

$4.08 LKR 1,340

-5.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.16 LKR 6,953

Cinema Ticket

$4.49 LKR 1,476

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

$38.82 LKR 12.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,199 LKR 393.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.94 LKR 7,865

$19.87 LKR 6,529

20.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.62 LKR 5,461

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.9 LKR 25.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$10.81 LKR 3,550

$42.44 LKR 13.9K

-74.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$43.56 LKR 14.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$62.7 LKR 20.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 LKR 54.4K

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: September 7, 2026

Last update for Hikkaduwa: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $9.00 in Matale vs $26.00 in Hikkaduwa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $117 vs $236 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 120% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $342 in Matale and $754 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 102% 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 $9.00 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 120% less than in Hikkaduwa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.