City in Northern Province, Sri Lanka
Cost of living in Jaffna
How much a month costs in Jaffna
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $696–1,150 (Rs230,000–380,000).
Prices in Jaffna
Typical 2026 ranges in LKR, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | LKR | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | Rs60,000–130,000 | $182–393 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | Rs40,000–90,000 | $121–272 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | Rs2,500–5,000 | $7.6–15.1 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | Rs9,000–22,000 | $27–67 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | Rs500–1,000 | $1.5–3.0 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | Rs2,000–4,500 | $6.1–13.6 |
| Cappuccino | Rs500–1,000 | $1.5–3.0 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | Rs800–1,400 | $2.4–4.2 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | Rs50–200 | $0.15–0.61 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | Rs700–1,300 | $2.1–3.9 |
| Work and life | ||
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | Rs1,400–2,500 | $4.2–7.6 |
Value for money: 87/100
A value score of 87/100 means Jaffna gives more quality of life per dollar than 86% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 57/100. It's the 6th most affordable of 18 places we cover in Sri Lanka.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Sri Lanka
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Trincomalee | $636–1,030 | 89/100 |
| Sigiriya | $666–1,090 | 89/100 |
| Hikkaduwa | $666–1,090 | 89/100 |
| Negombo | $666–1,090 | 88/100 |
| Nuwara Eliya | $696–1,120 | 85/100 |
| Weligama | $696–1,150 | 86/100 |
| Arugam Bay | $696–1,150 | 86/100 |
| Jaffna | $696–1,150 | 87/100 |
| Ella | $757–1,150 | 87/100 |
| Kandy | $757–1,150 | 87/100 |
| Unawatuna | $726–1,180 | 84/100 |
| Galle | $757–1,210 | 83/100 |
| Hiriketiya | $757–1,270 | 81/100 |
| Mirissa | $787–1,270 | 80/100 |
| Ahangama | $787–1,270 | 80/100 |
| Tangalle | $817–1,360 | 75/100 |
| Colombo | $908–1,360 | 74/100 |
| Bentota | $908–1,510 | 68/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Jaffna
Similar safety, lower cost, in South Asia.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Hampi | India | $291–467 |
| Darjeeling | India | $332–519 |
| Mysore | India | $363–571 |
| Dharamshala | India | $394–674 |
| Pondicherry | India | $415–674 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Jaffna?
About $333–515 on a lean budget, $696–1,150 for a comfortable month and $1,510–2,720 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Jaffna?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs Rs60,000–130,000 ($182–393) a month in the center and Rs40,000–90,000 ($121–272) outside it.
How much does food cost in Jaffna?
A local meal is Rs500–1,000 ($1.5–3.0); a mid-range restaurant is Rs2,000–4,500 ($6.1–13.6) per person.
Is Sri Lanka expensive?
Prices in Sri Lanka are about 27% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Jaffna
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Sri Lanka Railways
- Teaching Hospital Jaffna
- Sri Lanka Tourism
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.