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: $523 in Amparai versus $517 in Ratnapura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $861 in Amparai versus $833 in Ratnapura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,200 in Amparai versus $1,149 in Ratnapura.

Living in Amparai is roughly 1% more expensive than in Ratnapura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Amparai 61% lower, Ratnapura 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.12 LKR 1,386

$2.23 LKR 748

84.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.03 LKR 8,408

$10.02 LKR 3,367

149.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.26 LKR 2,775

$6.80 LKR 2,284

21.47%

Cappuccino

$2.68 LKR 899

$2.35 LKR 791

14.04%

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

$0.69 LKR 233

$0.82 LKR 274

-15.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 127

$0.52 LKR 174

-26.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 LKR 775

$2.23 LKR 749

3.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 LKR 1,139

$3.09 LKR 1,038

9.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 LKR 571

$2.04 LKR 686

-16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 LKR 185

$0.81 LKR 271

-32.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 292

$0.67 LKR 226

29.85%

Eggs

$2.22 LKR 748

$1.19 LKR 401

86.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.97 LKR 4,694

$16.66 LKR 5,598

-16.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 LKR 1,582

$7.14 LKR 2,400

-34.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 LKR 2,646

$17.18 LKR 5,773

-54.13%

Apples (1kg)

$7.70 LKR 2,588

$4.66 LKR 1,564

65.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 373

$0.82 LKR 276

35.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 LKR 1,950

$4.65 LKR 1,563

24.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 424

$1.08 LKR 363

16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 LKR 370

$1.17 LKR 392

-5.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 LKR 458

$1.56 LKR 525

-12.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 LKR 397

$0.56 LKR 189

110.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 202

$0.48 LKR 162

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.99 LKR 3,357

$14.66 LKR 4,926

-31.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.71 LKR 4,270

$12.44 LKR 4,180

2.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 LKR 675

$2.32 LKR 779

-13.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 LKR 989

$3.13 LKR 1,053

-6.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 LKR 141

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 128

$0.38 LKR 129

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 119

$0.53 LKR 178

-33.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 192

$0.32 LKR 106

78.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 LKR 417

$1.06 LKR 357

16.98%

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

$27.1K LKR 9.1M

$21.7K LKR 7.3M

25.20%

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

$35.5K LKR 11.9M

$21.4K LKR 7.2M

65.76%

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

$59.5 LKR 20.0K

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

$4.31 LKR 1,448

$2.25 LKR 755

91.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.32 LKR 5,147

$8.23 LKR 2,767

86.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.99 LKR 3,355

Cinema Ticket

$2.00 LKR 671

$2.61 LKR 875

-23.37%

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

$37.14 LKR 12.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$444 LKR 149.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.29 LKR 9,169

$11.53 LKR 3,873

136.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.07 LKR 6,406

$8.41 LKR 2,825

126.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 LKR 23.3K

$95.5 LKR 32.1K

-27.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.87 LKR 13.1K

$28.66 LKR 9,628

35.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$82.8 LKR 27.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$61.4 LKR 20.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.9 LKR 31.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$90.7 LKR 30.5K

$165 LKR 55.5K

-45.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

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

Last update for Amparai: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ratnapura pays 82% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $25.00 in Amparai vs $10.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries flip the comparison at $258 vs $283, 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 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 82% 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 $10.00 versus $25.00 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 1% less than in Amparai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.