Cost of Living Comparison Between Bentota and Ratnapura Cost of Living Comparison Between Bentota and Ratnapura

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $787 in Bentota versus $481 in Ratnapura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $900 in Bentota versus $765 in Ratnapura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,014 in Bentota versus $1,050 in Ratnapura.

Living in Bentota is roughly 64% more expensive than in Ratnapura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bentota 43% lower, Ratnapura 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.52 LKR 1,487

$2.00 LKR 656

126.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.32 LKR 4,049

$9.18 LKR 3,016

34.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 LKR 2,572

$6.13 LKR 2,013

27.73%

Cappuccino

$2.50 LKR 823

$2.08 LKR 683

20.19%

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

$0.69 LKR 227

$0.79 LKR 259

-12.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 LKR 89.4

$0.48 LKR 157

-43.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 LKR 745

$1.99 LKR 655

14.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 LKR 1,013

$2.76 LKR 908

11.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 LKR 540

$1.81 LKR 594

-9.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 172

$0.79 LKR 260

-34.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.75 LKR 246

$0.66 LKR 218

13.64%

Eggs

$1.65 LKR 541

$1.12 LKR 368

47.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.40 LKR 4,402

$15.15 LKR 4,980

-11.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 LKR 1,083

$6.51 LKR 2,139

-49.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.49 LKR 1,477

$15.90 LKR 5,226

-71.76%

Apples (1kg)

$6.70 LKR 2,202

$4.32 LKR 1,420

55.09%

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 LKR 253

$0.76 LKR 251

1.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 LKR 1,430

$4.36 LKR 1,432

-0.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.95 LKR 311

$1.02 LKR 334

-6.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 LKR 342

$1.03 LKR 338

0.97%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 LKR 246

$1.37 LKR 451

-45.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 LKR 309

$0.48 LKR 156

95.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 LKR 150

$0.45 LKR 147

2.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.27 LKR 3,373

$13.10 LKR 4,303

-21.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.54 LKR 4,448

$12.62 LKR 4,148

7.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 LKR 650

$2.11 LKR 692

-6.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 LKR 946

$2.84 LKR 933

1.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 LKR 63.1

$0.35 LKR 116

-45.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 126

$0.36 LKR 117

5.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 LKR 94.1

$0.44 LKR 144

-34.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 LKR 304

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 LKR 420

$0.99 LKR 326

29.29%

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

$30.9K LKR 10.1M

$19.6K LKR 6.5M

57.25%

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

$42.8K LKR 14.0M

$19.7K LKR 6.5M

116.51%

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

$55.7 LKR 18.3K

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

$2.32 LKR 764

$2.01 LKR 662

15.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.22 LKR 3,029

$7.49 LKR 2,462

23.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.02 LKR 2,964

Cinema Ticket

$4.35 LKR 1,428

$2.40 LKR 787

81.25%

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

$37.48 LKR 12.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,214 LKR 398.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.27 LKR 6,660

$10.79 LKR 3,545

87.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.62 LKR 5,460

$7.76 LKR 2,550

114.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.8 LKR 26.2K

$85.8 LKR 28.2K

-6.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.81 LKR 14.1K

$26.03 LKR 8,553

64.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$541 LKR 177.7K

$76.6 LKR 25.2K

606.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$303 LKR 99.6K

$54.0 LKR 17.7K

461.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$86.2 LKR 28.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 LKR 55.9K

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 Bentota: September 7, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $541 in Bentota and $76.6 in Ratnapura. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Bentota vs $9.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries flip the comparison at $218 vs $262, with Bentota 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

Bentota vs Ratnapura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ratnapura is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 64% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,181 in Bentota and $721 in Ratnapura to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $541 in Bentota versus $76.6 in Ratnapura. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Bentota pay roughly 20% 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 $12.00 in Bentota. 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, Bentota 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 64% less than in Bentota. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.