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: $659 in Bentota versus $520 in Ratnapura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $866 in Bentota versus $847 in Ratnapura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,072 in Bentota versus $1,173 in Ratnapura.

Living in Bentota is roughly 27% more expensive than Ratnapura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 LKR 1,336

$2.21 LKR 733

82.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.50 LKR 4,476

$9.89 LKR 3,280

36.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 LKR 2,797

$6.73 LKR 2,230

25.26%

Cappuccino

$2.76 LKR 914

$2.39 LKR 791

15.48%

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

$0.74 LKR 245

$0.82 LKR 272

-9.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 133

$0.52 LKR 172

-23.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 LKR 780

$2.20 LKR 729

6.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 LKR 1,093

$2.97 LKR 985

11.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 LKR 584

$1.97 LKR 652

-10.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 184

$0.86 LKR 284

-34.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 288

$0.72 LKR 240

20.83%

Eggs

$2.22 LKR 738

$1.17 LKR 390

89.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.13 LKR 4,686

$16.64 LKR 5,518

-15.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 LKR 1,203

$6.84 LKR 2,267

-46.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.07 LKR 1,680

$17.39 LKR 5,765

-70.85%

Apples (1kg)

$7.51 LKR 2,489

$4.71 LKR 1,562

59.45%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 291

$0.82 LKR 271

7.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.76 LKR 1,909

$4.67 LKR 1,548

23.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.99 LKR 327

$1.09 LKR 362

-9.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 LKR 379

$1.16 LKR 385

-1.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 LKR 466

$1.50 LKR 498

-6.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 LKR 382

$0.56 LKR 185

105.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 LKR 184

$0.52 LKR 172

5.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.08 LKR 3,343

$14.71 LKR 4,876

-31.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.01 LKR 4,315

$12.45 LKR 4,129

4.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 LKR 693

$2.22 LKR 738

-5.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 LKR 947

$3.12 LKR 1,034

-8.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 LKR 60.0

$0.41 LKR 137

-56.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 136

$0.39 LKR 129

5.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 118

$0.53 LKR 176

-32.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 201

$0.34 LKR 113

79.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 LKR 396

$1.07 LKR 353

11.21%

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

$26.4K LKR 8.7M

$22.1K LKR 7.3M

19.44%

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

$34.2K LKR 11.3M

$21.3K LKR 7.1M

60.50%

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

$60.8 LKR 20.1K

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

$2.44 LKR 809

$2.33 LKR 773

4.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.19 LKR 3,378

$8.13 LKR 2,697

25.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.18 LKR 3,377

Cinema Ticket

$3.25 LKR 1,078

$2.66 LKR 884

22.18%

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

$36.43 LKR 12.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$438 LKR 145.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.79 LKR 9,214

$11.76 LKR 3,901

136.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.68 LKR 6,525

$8.56 LKR 2,838

129.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.4 LKR 22.7K

$93.5 LKR 31.0K

-26.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.13 LKR 12.6K

$28.55 LKR 9,466

33.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 LKR 80.5K

$85.0 LKR 28.2K

185.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$153 LKR 50.6K

$59.4 LKR 19.7K

156.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.3 LKR 30.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 LKR 57.0K

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $243 in Bentota and $85.0 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 $242 vs $282, 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 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $988 in Bentota and $780 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: $243 in Bentota versus $85.0 in Ratnapura. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Bentota pay roughly 17% 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 27% less than in Bentota. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.