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: $846 in Sungai Petani versus $582 in Hikkaduwa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,285 in Sungai Petani versus $1,118 in Hikkaduwa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,723 in Sungai Petani versus $1,654 in Hikkaduwa.

Living in Sungai Petani is roughly 45% more expensive than Hikkaduwa, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sungai Petani 37% lower, Hikkaduwa 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 MYR 12.47

$3.97 LKR 1,324

-21.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.87 MYR 83.3

$25.53 LKR 8,515

-18.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.36 MYR 17.39

$8.54 LKR 2,850

-48.95%

Cappuccino

$1.70 MYR 6.78

$2.71 LKR 903

-37.27%

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

$0.49 MYR 1.96

$0.74 LKR 248

-33.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 MYR 1.00

$0.32 LKR 106

-21.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.24 MYR 16.90

$2.32 LKR 773

82.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 MYR 11.47

$3.27 LKR 1,092

-12.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 MYR 7.32

$1.67 LKR 558

9.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 MYR 2.71

$0.55 LKR 185

23.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 5.00

$0.83 LKR 277

50.60%

Eggs

$2.04 MYR 8.13

$2.15 LKR 716

-5.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 MYR 60.2

$13.82 LKR 4,609

9.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.52 MYR 14.06

$4.80 LKR 1,601

-26.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 MYR 39.39

$8.15 LKR 2,717

21.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 MYR 11.64

$7.58 LKR 2,529

-61.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.73

$0.32 LKR 106

350.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 MYR 10.78

$2.71 LKR 903

-0.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MYR 8.30

$0.98 LKR 328

112.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.69

$1.16 LKR 386

1.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.82

$0.38 LKR 128

218.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MYR 3.79

$1.14 LKR 379

-16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 MYR 1.82

$0.52 LKR 175

-11.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MYR 16.27

$10.00 LKR 3,336

-59.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.86 MYR 79.2

$12.85 LKR 4,287

54.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.73 MYR 10.88

$2.10 LKR 702

30.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 MYR 13.92

$2.93 LKR 977

19.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 2.93

$0.32 LKR 107

131.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.62 MYR 46.36

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 MYR 2.78

$0.38 LKR 127

84.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 MYR 1.98

$0.33 LKR 109

51.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.27 MYR 29.00

$0.58 LKR 193

1153.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.00

$1.19 LKR 398

-57.98%

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

$33.2K MYR 132.5K

$26.3K LKR 8.8M

26.42%

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

$27.3K MYR 109.0K

$34.4K LKR 11.5M

-20.51%

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

$38.81 MYR 155

$59.9 LKR 20.0K

-35.24%

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

$10.26 MYR 40.95

$4.22 LKR 1,408

143.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.36 MYR 125

$14.89 LKR 4,967

110.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.11 MYR 148

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.95 MYR 23.73

Cinema Ticket

$2.84 MYR 11.34

$3.26 LKR 1,087

-12.88%

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

$241 MYR 962

$37.16 LKR 12.4K

548.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,305 MYR 25.2K

$435 LKR 145.0K

1349.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 MYR 216

$27.63 LKR 9,213

95.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.28 MYR 117

$19.41 LKR 6,473

50.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.0 MYR 243

$69.3 LKR 23.1K

-11.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.3 MYR 209

$38.90 LKR 13.0K

34.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$379 MYR 1,514

$165 LKR 55.1K

129.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$273 MYR 1,091

$83.1 LKR 27.7K

229.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$644 MYR 2,569

$1,671 LKR 557.4K

-61.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$466 MYR 1,860

$497 LKR 165.7K

-6.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,277 MYR 5,095

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$501 MYR 2,000

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$511 MYR 2,040

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Hikkaduwa: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $379 in Sungai Petani and $165 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 $251 vs $237, 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 45% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,269 in Sungai Petani 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $379 in Sungai Petani versus $165 in Hikkaduwa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Sungai Petani. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $846 per month in Sungai Petani versus $582 in Hikkaduwa – a 45% 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 45% less than in Sungai Petani. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.