Cost of Living Comparison Between Badulla and Ratnapura Cost of Living Comparison Between Badulla and Ratnapura

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $521 in Badulla versus $517 in Ratnapura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $848 in Badulla versus $833 in Ratnapura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,174 in Badulla versus $1,149 in Ratnapura.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 LKR 1,335

$2.23 LKR 748

78.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.09 LKR 8,431

$10.02 LKR 3,367

150.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.56 LKR 2,877

$6.80 LKR 2,284

25.88%

Cappuccino

$2.71 LKR 911

$2.35 LKR 791

15.32%

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

$0.68 LKR 229

$0.82 LKR 274

-17.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 LKR 126

$0.52 LKR 174

-28.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 LKR 771

$2.23 LKR 749

3.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 LKR 1,153

$3.09 LKR 1,038

11.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 LKR 539

$2.04 LKR 686

-21.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 189

$0.81 LKR 271

-30.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.69 LKR 232

$0.67 LKR 226

2.99%

Eggs

$2.12 LKR 711

$1.19 LKR 401

78.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.04 LKR 4,717

$16.66 LKR 5,598

-15.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.95 LKR 1,326

$7.14 LKR 2,400

-44.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.85 LKR 2,637

$17.18 LKR 5,773

-54.31%

Apples (1kg)

$7.41 LKR 2,489

$4.66 LKR 1,564

59.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 LKR 361

$0.82 LKR 276

31.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.93 LKR 1,993

$4.65 LKR 1,563

27.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 LKR 405

$1.08 LKR 363

12.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 390

$1.17 LKR 392

-0.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 477

$1.56 LKR 525

-8.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 LKR 399

$0.56 LKR 189

112.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 200

$0.48 LKR 162

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.14 LKR 3,408

$14.66 LKR 4,926

-30.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.66 LKR 4,253

$12.44 LKR 4,180

1.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 LKR 670

$2.32 LKR 779

-14.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 LKR 1,000

$3.13 LKR 1,053

-4.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 LKR 141

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 130

$0.38 LKR 129

2.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 110

$0.53 LKR 178

-37.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 195

$0.32 LKR 106

81.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 407

$1.06 LKR 357

14.15%

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

$26.8K LKR 9.0M

$21.7K LKR 7.3M

23.85%

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

$34.6K LKR 11.6M

$21.4K LKR 7.2M

61.88%

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

$60.5 LKR 20.3K

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

$4.43 LKR 1,487

$2.25 LKR 755

96.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.09 LKR 5,069

$8.23 LKR 2,767

83.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.99 LKR 3,355

Cinema Ticket

$3.26 LKR 1,096

$2.61 LKR 875

24.90%

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

$36.66 LKR 12.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$446 LKR 149.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.48 LKR 9,234

$11.53 LKR 3,873

138.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.67 LKR 6,607

$8.41 LKR 2,825

133.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.6 LKR 23.0K

$95.5 LKR 32.1K

-28.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.59 LKR 13.0K

$28.66 LKR 9,628

34.65%

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

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,419 LKR 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$739 LKR 248.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$225 LKR 75.5K

$165 LKR 55.5K

36.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Badulla: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Badulla pays 36% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $25.00 in Badulla vs $10.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries flip the comparison at $251 vs $283, with Badulla 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

Badulla 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.

Average pay runs 36% higher in Badulla, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Badulla pay roughly 13% 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 Badulla. 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, Badulla 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 Badulla. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.