Cost of Living Comparison Between Sungai Petani and Hikkaduwa Cost of Living Comparison Between Sungai Petani and Hikkaduwa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $883 in Sungai Petani versus $508 in Hikkaduwa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,334 in Sungai Petani versus $825 in Hikkaduwa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,785 in Sungai Petani versus $1,142 in Hikkaduwa.

Living in Sungai Petani is roughly 74% more expensive than in Hikkaduwa, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sungai Petani 35% lower, Hikkaduwa 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.61 MYR 14.72

$4.31 LKR 1,426

-16.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.99 MYR 81.6

$25.74 LKR 8,522

-22.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.56 MYR 18.62

$7.54 LKR 2,497

-39.52%

Cappuccino

$1.75 MYR 7.13

$2.48 LKR 822

-29.44%

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

$0.77 MYR 3.14

$0.72 LKR 240

6.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 MYR 1.57

$0.27 LKR 89.4

40.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.26 MYR 17.38

$2.24 LKR 742

90.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 MYR 12.26

$2.97 LKR 982

1.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MYR 7.56

$1.63 LKR 541

13.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MYR 4.44

$0.52 LKR 173

109.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 MYR 7.16

$0.80 LKR 266

118.75%

Eggs

$2.20 MYR 8.97

$1.59 LKR 526

38.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.48 MYR 38.68

$13.41 LKR 4,441

-29.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 MYR 17.78

$4.97 LKR 1,645

-12.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.60 MYR 35.09

$7.46 LKR 2,471

15.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 MYR 11.82

$6.62 LKR 2,191

-56.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 MYR 7.08

$0.89 LKR 296

94.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.49 MYR 10.15

$4.30 LKR 1,424

-42.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 MYR 5.83

$1.30 LKR 429

10.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 MYR 4.37

$1.06 LKR 351

0.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.71

$0.80 LKR 265

43.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 MYR 4.49

$0.94 LKR 312

17.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 MYR 2.37

$0.45 LKR 149

28.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.38 MYR 17.90

$10.57 LKR 3,499

-58.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.52 MYR 79.7

$13.99 LKR 4,631

39.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 MYR 12.39

$1.91 LKR 631

58.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 MYR 16.33

$2.81 LKR 929

42.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MYR 3.16

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.47 MYR 50.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 MYR 7.12

$0.42 LKR 138

314.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 MYR 1.66

$0.35 LKR 117

17.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.19 MYR 29.34

$0.88 LKR 290

717.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 MYR 1.97

$1.33 LKR 440

-63.91%

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

$42.4K MYR 173.0K

$30.9K LKR 10.2M

37.33%

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

$34.4K MYR 140.6K

$42.0K LKR 13.9M

-18.01%

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

$36.98 MYR 151

$55.7 LKR 18.4K

-33.56%

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

$10.10 MYR 41.25

$4.26 LKR 1,411

137.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.78 MYR 80.7

$21.20 LKR 7,019

-6.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.50 MYR 165

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.49 MYR 26.51

Cinema Ticket

$2.98 MYR 12.16

$4.39 LKR 1,455

-32.12%

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

$425 MYR 1,735

$37.44 LKR 12.4K

1034.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.9K MYR 44.4K

$1,215 LKR 402.2K

795.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.2 MYR 246

$20.48 LKR 6,782

193.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.80 MYR 142

$16.57 LKR 5,488

110.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.7 MYR 305

$80.0 LKR 26.5K

-6.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.8 MYR 281

$43.00 LKR 14.2K

60.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 MYR 1,679

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 MYR 1,260

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$690 MYR 2,817

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 MYR 2,005

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,045 MYR 8,349

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,136 MYR 4,640

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$501 MYR 2,047

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.24

12.69

-66.59%

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

Last update for Sungai Petani: September 14, 2026

Last update for Hikkaduwa: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $20.00 in Sungai Petani vs $26.00 in Hikkaduwa. Groceries flip the comparison at $242 vs $238, with Hikkaduwa cheaper for home cooking.

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

Sungai Petani vs Hikkaduwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hikkaduwa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 74% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,325 in Sungai Petani and $762 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 2% higher in Sungai Petani. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $883 per month in Sungai Petani versus $508 in Hikkaduwa – a 74% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Hikkaduwa 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, Sungai Petani 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 Hikkaduwa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Sungai Petani. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.