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: $824 in Sungai Petani versus $590 in Hikkaduwa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,254 in Sungai Petani versus $1,125 in Hikkaduwa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,684 in Sungai Petani versus $1,660 in Hikkaduwa.

Living in Sungai Petani is roughly 40% more expensive than in Hikkaduwa, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sungai Petani 38% lower, Hikkaduwa 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.07 MYR 12.57

$4.05 LKR 1,361

-24.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.95 MYR 85.7

$25.51 LKR 8,572

-17.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.16 MYR 17.01

$8.38 LKR 2,816

-50.36%

Cappuccino

$1.66 MYR 6.80

$2.65 LKR 891

-37.36%

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

$0.49 MYR 2.02

$0.72 LKR 243

-31.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 MYR 1.02

$0.34 LKR 115

-26.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.49 MYR 18.36

$2.33 LKR 783

92.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 MYR 11.62

$3.32 LKR 1,114

-14.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 MYR 7.44

$1.76 LKR 593

3.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 MYR 2.80

$0.52 LKR 176

30.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 5.12

$0.88 LKR 295

42.05%

Eggs

$2.13 MYR 8.70

$2.22 LKR 747

-4.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.89 MYR 60.9

$14.29 LKR 4,802

4.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.60 MYR 14.73

$4.78 LKR 1,606

-24.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.79 MYR 40.05

$7.87 LKR 2,645

24.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 MYR 11.91

$7.42 LKR 2,492

-60.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.21

$0.32 LKR 107

375.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 MYR 11.14

$2.75 LKR 923

-1.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 MYR 8.59

$0.98 LKR 331

114.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.84

$1.16 LKR 391

1.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.76

$0.36 LKR 121

222.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 MYR 3.69

$1.18 LKR 397

-23.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 MYR 1.87

$0.57 LKR 190

-19.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.99 MYR 16.33

$10.11 LKR 3,399

-60.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.87 MYR 77.2

$12.67 LKR 4,258

48.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 MYR 11.04

$2.06 LKR 694

31.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 MYR 14.20

$2.93 LKR 985

18.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 MYR 2.85

$0.34 LKR 115

105.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.96 MYR 48.94

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 MYR 3.04

$0.42 LKR 141

76.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 MYR 2.04

$0.35 LKR 118

42.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.02 MYR 28.71

$0.60 LKR 203

1070.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$1.26 LKR 423

-60.32%

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

$32.9K MYR 134.7K

$27.2K LKR 9.1M

21.14%

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

$27.2K MYR 111.4K

$35.2K LKR 11.8M

-22.72%

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

$39.01 MYR 160

$61.4 LKR 20.6K

-36.41%

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

$9.93 MYR 40.63

$4.28 LKR 1,438

132.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.39 MYR 128

$15.20 LKR 5,108

106.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.48 MYR 149

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.92 MYR 24.22

Cinema Ticket

$2.79 MYR 11.41

$3.26 LKR 1,096

-14.42%

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

$240 MYR 983

$37.47 LKR 12.6K

541.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,266 MYR 25.6K

$440 LKR 147.8K

1324.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.0 MYR 221

$27.50 LKR 9,240

96.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.31 MYR 116

$19.44 LKR 6,532

45.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.3 MYR 255

$69.8 LKR 23.4K

-10.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.8 MYR 220

$39.04 LKR 13.1K

37.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$384 MYR 1,571

$169 LKR 56.9K

126.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 MYR 1,106

$83.5 LKR 28.1K

223.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$634 MYR 2,593

$1,689 LKR 567.7K

-62.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$479 MYR 1,960

$497 LKR 167.0K

-3.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,051 MYR 8,389

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,180 MYR 4,826

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 MYR 2,020

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

16.45

-74.71%

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

Last update for Sungai Petani: July 12, 2026

Last update for Hikkaduwa: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $384 in Sungai Petani and $169 in Hikkaduwa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $21.00 in Sungai Petani vs $26.00 in Hikkaduwa. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 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 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,236 in Sungai Petani 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $384 in Sungai Petani versus $169 in Hikkaduwa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Sungai Petani. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $824 per month in Sungai Petani versus $590 in Hikkaduwa – a 40% 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 40% less than in Sungai Petani. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.