Cost of Living Comparison Between Amparai and Ratnapura Cost of Living Comparison Between Amparai and Ratnapura

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $510 in Amparai versus $481 in Ratnapura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $824 in Amparai versus $765 in Ratnapura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,138 in Amparai versus $1,050 in Ratnapura.

Living in Amparai is roughly 6% more expensive than in Ratnapura, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Amparai 63% lower, Ratnapura 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.35 LKR 1,428

$2.00 LKR 656

117.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.40 LKR 8,675

$9.18 LKR 3,016

187.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.77 LKR 2,554

$6.13 LKR 2,013

26.75%

Cappuccino

$2.45 LKR 806

$2.08 LKR 683

17.79%

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

$0.72 LKR 238

$0.79 LKR 259

-8.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 LKR 81.6

$0.48 LKR 157

-47.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 LKR 736

$1.99 LKR 655

12.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 LKR 974

$2.76 LKR 908

7.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 LKR 536

$1.81 LKR 594

-9.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 LKR 177

$0.79 LKR 260

-31.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 262

$0.66 LKR 218

21.21%

Eggs

$1.62 LKR 531

$1.12 LKR 368

44.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.47 LKR 4,426

$15.15 LKR 4,980

-11.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.95 LKR 1,626

$6.51 LKR 2,139

-23.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.06 LKR 2,321

$15.90 LKR 5,226

-55.60%

Apples (1kg)

$7.00 LKR 2,300

$4.32 LKR 1,420

62.04%

Banana (1kg)

$0.89 LKR 294

$0.76 LKR 251

17.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.27 LKR 1,403

$4.36 LKR 1,432

-2.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.28 LKR 420

$1.02 LKR 334

25.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 LKR 333

$1.03 LKR 338

-1.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 264

$1.37 LKR 451

-41.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 LKR 299

$0.48 LKR 156

89.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 LKR 159

$0.45 LKR 147

8.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.18 LKR 3,346

$13.10 LKR 4,303

-22.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.89 LKR 4,566

$12.62 LKR 4,148

10.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 LKR 631

$2.11 LKR 692

-9.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 LKR 940

$2.84 LKR 933

0.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 LKR 116

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 125

$0.36 LKR 117

5.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 118

$0.44 LKR 144

-18.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 LKR 287

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 LKR 443

$0.99 LKR 326

36.36%

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

$30.1K LKR 9.9M

$19.6K LKR 6.5M

53.08%

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

$42.5K LKR 14.0M

$19.7K LKR 6.5M

115.35%

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

$55.9 LKR 18.4K

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

$4.13 LKR 1,357

$2.01 LKR 662

105.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.82 LKR 6,842

$7.49 LKR 2,462

177.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.02 LKR 2,964

Cinema Ticket

$1.80 LKR 593

$2.40 LKR 787

-25.00%

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

$38.47 LKR 12.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,205 LKR 396.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.09 LKR 6,602

$10.79 LKR 3,545

86.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.50 LKR 5,422

$7.76 LKR 2,550

112.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 LKR 26.1K

$85.8 LKR 28.2K

-7.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.96 LKR 13.8K

$26.03 LKR 8,553

61.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.6 LKR 25.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$54.0 LKR 17.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$86.2 LKR 28.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$92.0 LKR 30.2K

$170 LKR 55.9K

-45.97%

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 Amparai: September 5, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ratnapura pays 85% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $26.00 in Amparai vs $9.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries flip the comparison at $239 vs $262, with Amparai 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

Amparai vs Ratnapura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ratnapura is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 85% lower in Ratnapura. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Shoppers in Amparai pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Ratnapura – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $26.00 in Amparai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Ratnapura 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, Amparai and Ratnapura 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 Ratnapura gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Amparai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.