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: $529 in Amparai versus $520 in Ratnapura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $856 in Amparai versus $847 in Ratnapura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,183 in Amparai versus $1,173 in Ratnapura.

Living in Amparai is roughly 2% more expensive than Ratnapura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.05 LKR 1,344

$2.21 LKR 733

83.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.62 LKR 8,164

$9.89 LKR 3,280

148.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.14 LKR 2,698

$6.73 LKR 2,230

20.95%

Cappuccino

$2.66 LKR 881

$2.39 LKR 791

11.30%

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

$0.69 LKR 229

$0.82 LKR 272

-15.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 LKR 124

$0.52 LKR 172

-28.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 LKR 765

$2.20 LKR 729

5.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 LKR 1,136

$2.97 LKR 985

15.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 LKR 573

$1.97 LKR 652

-12.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 LKR 171

$0.86 LKR 284

-40.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 290

$0.72 LKR 240

22.22%

Eggs

$2.21 LKR 733

$1.17 LKR 390

88.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.24 LKR 4,721

$16.64 LKR 5,518

-14.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.62 LKR 1,531

$6.84 LKR 2,267

-32.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.15 LKR 2,703

$17.39 LKR 5,765

-53.13%

Apples (1kg)

$7.46 LKR 2,474

$4.71 LKR 1,562

58.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 LKR 365

$0.82 LKR 271

34.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.76 LKR 1,910

$4.67 LKR 1,548

23.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 413

$1.09 LKR 362

14.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 382

$1.16 LKR 385

-0.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 LKR 457

$1.50 LKR 498

-8.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 LKR 379

$0.56 LKR 185

103.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 198

$0.52 LKR 172

15.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.15 LKR 3,367

$14.71 LKR 4,876

-31.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.71 LKR 4,214

$12.45 LKR 4,129

2.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 LKR 660

$2.22 LKR 738

-10.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 LKR 952

$3.12 LKR 1,034

-8.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 LKR 137

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 129

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 117

$0.53 LKR 176

-33.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 189

$0.34 LKR 113

67.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 403

$1.07 LKR 353

13.08%

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

$27.0K LKR 9.0M

$22.1K LKR 7.3M

22.34%

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

$34.7K LKR 11.5M

$21.3K LKR 7.1M

62.74%

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

$59.3 LKR 19.7K

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

$4.27 LKR 1,417

$2.33 LKR 773

83.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.32 LKR 5,078

$8.13 LKR 2,697

88.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.18 LKR 3,377

Cinema Ticket

$1.97 LKR 655

$2.66 LKR 884

-25.94%

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

$36.57 LKR 12.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$443 LKR 146.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.17 LKR 9,007

$11.76 LKR 3,901

131.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.37 LKR 6,422

$8.56 LKR 2,838

126.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.4 LKR 23.3K

$93.5 LKR 31.0K

-24.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.41 LKR 13.1K

$28.55 LKR 9,466

38.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$85.0 LKR 28.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.4 LKR 19.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.3 LKR 30.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$88.9 LKR 29.5K

$172 LKR 57.0K

-48.32%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ratnapura pays 93% 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 $257 vs $282, 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 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Ratnapura earns 93% less. 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 2% less than in Amparai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.