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: $525 in Badulla versus $520 in Ratnapura.

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

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,169 in Badulla versus $1,173 in Ratnapura.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.06 LKR 1,353

$2.21 LKR 737

83.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.83 LKR 8,280

$9.89 LKR 3,299

151.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.27 LKR 2,757

$6.73 LKR 2,243

22.88%

Cappuccino

$2.74 LKR 913

$2.39 LKR 796

14.64%

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

$0.69 LKR 229

$0.82 LKR 274

-15.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 135

$0.52 LKR 173

-21.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 LKR 761

$2.20 LKR 733

3.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 LKR 1,103

$2.97 LKR 991

11.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 LKR 562

$1.97 LKR 656

-14.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 174

$0.86 LKR 286

-39.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.71 LKR 238

$0.72 LKR 241

-1.39%

Eggs

$2.11 LKR 705

$1.17 LKR 392

80.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.30 LKR 4,769

$16.64 LKR 5,550

-14.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.94 LKR 1,313

$6.84 LKR 2,281

-42.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.20 LKR 2,734

$17.39 LKR 5,798

-52.85%

Apples (1kg)

$7.67 LKR 2,557

$4.71 LKR 1,571

62.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 358

$0.82 LKR 273

30.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.81 LKR 1,937

$4.67 LKR 1,557

24.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 LKR 399

$1.09 LKR 364

9.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 384

$1.16 LKR 387

-0.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 LKR 467

$1.50 LKR 501

-6.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 402

$0.56 LKR 186

114.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 LKR 202

$0.52 LKR 173

17.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.90 LKR 3,301

$14.71 LKR 4,904

-32.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.04 LKR 4,350

$12.45 LKR 4,153

4.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 LKR 698

$2.22 LKR 742

-5.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 LKR 984

$3.12 LKR 1,040

-5.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 LKR 138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 127

$0.39 LKR 130

-2.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 118

$0.53 LKR 177

-33.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 LKR 188

$0.34 LKR 114

64.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 LKR 415

$1.07 LKR 356

16.82%

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

$26.7K LKR 8.9M

$22.1K LKR 7.4M

20.98%

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

$34.4K LKR 11.5M

$21.3K LKR 7.1M

61.76%

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

$59.5 LKR 19.8K

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

$4.32 LKR 1,440

$2.33 LKR 778

85.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.03 LKR 5,014

$8.13 LKR 2,712

84.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.18 LKR 3,396

Cinema Ticket

$3.29 LKR 1,098

$2.66 LKR 889

23.68%

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

$36.17 LKR 12.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$441 LKR 147.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.11 LKR 9,041

$11.76 LKR 3,923

130.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.48 LKR 6,496

$8.56 LKR 2,855

127.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.3 LKR 22.8K

$93.5 LKR 31.2K

-26.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.27 LKR 12.8K

$28.55 LKR 9,521

34.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$85.0 LKR 28.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.4 LKR 19.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.3 LKR 30.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,547 LKR 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$760 LKR 253.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$228 LKR 76.0K

$172 LKR 57.3K

32.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Badulla: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Badulla pays 32% 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 $255 vs $282, 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.

Badulla pays 32% more on average, 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 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 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.