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: $649 in Bentota versus $517 in Ratnapura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $859 in Bentota versus $833 in Ratnapura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,069 in Bentota versus $1,149 in Ratnapura.

Living in Bentota is roughly 25% more expensive than in Ratnapura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bentota 51% lower, Ratnapura 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.13 LKR 1,388

$2.23 LKR 748

85.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.23 LKR 4,446

$10.02 LKR 3,367

32.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 LKR 2,829

$6.80 LKR 2,284

23.82%

Cappuccino

$2.60 LKR 875

$2.35 LKR 791

10.64%

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

$0.74 LKR 249

$0.82 LKR 274

-9.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 127

$0.52 LKR 174

-26.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 LKR 772

$2.23 LKR 749

3.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 LKR 1,147

$3.09 LKR 1,038

10.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 LKR 570

$2.04 LKR 686

-16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 188

$0.81 LKR 271

-30.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 269

$0.67 LKR 226

19.40%

Eggs

$2.12 LKR 713

$1.19 LKR 401

78.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.10 LKR 4,738

$16.66 LKR 5,598

-15.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 LKR 1,251

$7.14 LKR 2,400

-47.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.97 LKR 1,670

$17.18 LKR 5,773

-71.07%

Apples (1kg)

$7.37 LKR 2,475

$4.66 LKR 1,564

58.15%

Banana (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 278

$0.82 LKR 276

1.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.62 LKR 1,888

$4.65 LKR 1,563

20.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.99 LKR 331

$1.08 LKR 363

-8.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 LKR 384

$1.17 LKR 392

-2.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 LKR 461

$1.56 LKR 525

-12.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 LKR 388

$0.56 LKR 189

107.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 LKR 204

$0.48 LKR 162

27.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.14 LKR 3,408

$14.66 LKR 4,926

-30.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.74 LKR 4,280

$12.44 LKR 4,180

2.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 LKR 680

$2.32 LKR 779

-12.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 LKR 986

$3.13 LKR 1,053

-6.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 LKR 74.4

$0.42 LKR 141

-47.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 129

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 111

$0.53 LKR 178

-37.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 191

$0.32 LKR 106

78.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 403

$1.06 LKR 357

13.21%

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

$27.3K LKR 9.2M

$21.7K LKR 7.3M

25.89%

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

$34.8K LKR 11.7M

$21.4K LKR 7.2M

62.87%

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

$60.7 LKR 20.4K

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

$2.49 LKR 837

$2.25 LKR 755

10.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.87 LKR 3,315

$8.23 LKR 2,767

19.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.99 LKR 3,355

Cinema Ticket

$3.26 LKR 1,097

$2.61 LKR 875

24.90%

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

$36.89 LKR 12.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$448 LKR 150.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.25 LKR 9,156

$11.53 LKR 3,873

136.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.70 LKR 6,618

$8.41 LKR 2,825

134.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.0 LKR 23.5K

$95.5 LKR 32.1K

-26.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.31 LKR 12.9K

$28.66 LKR 9,628

33.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 LKR 79.8K

$82.8 LKR 27.8K

186.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$151 LKR 50.6K

$61.4 LKR 20.6K

145.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.9 LKR 31.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 LKR 55.5K

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 Bentota: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $237 in Bentota and $82.8 in Ratnapura. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Bentota vs $10.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries flip the comparison at $239 vs $283, 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 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $973 in Bentota and $776 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: $237 in Bentota versus $82.8 in Ratnapura. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Bentota pay roughly 18% 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 $13.00 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 25% less than in Bentota. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.