Cost of Living Comparison Between Beruwala and Ratnapura Cost of Living Comparison Between Beruwala and Ratnapura

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $521 in Beruwala versus $520 in Ratnapura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $859 in Beruwala versus $847 in Ratnapura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,198 in Beruwala versus $1,173 in Ratnapura.

Monthly costs are close between Beruwala and Ratnapura; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 LKR 1,319

$2.21 LKR 733

80.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.26 LKR 8,377

$9.89 LKR 3,280

155.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.30 LKR 2,753

$6.73 LKR 2,230

23.33%

Cappuccino

$2.66 LKR 881

$2.39 LKR 791

11.30%

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

$0.74 LKR 244

$0.82 LKR 272

-9.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 135

$0.52 LKR 172

-21.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 LKR 753

$2.20 LKR 729

3.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 LKR 1,132

$2.97 LKR 985

15.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 LKR 580

$1.97 LKR 652

-11.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 172

$0.86 LKR 284

-39.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 274

$0.72 LKR 240

15.28%

Eggs

$2.21 LKR 732

$1.17 LKR 390

88.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 LKR 4,588

$16.64 LKR 5,518

-16.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.62 LKR 1,531

$6.84 LKR 2,267

-32.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.95 LKR 2,635

$17.39 LKR 5,765

-54.28%

Apples (1kg)

$7.29 LKR 2,417

$4.71 LKR 1,562

54.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 351

$0.82 LKR 271

29.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.70 LKR 1,890

$4.67 LKR 1,548

22.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 417

$1.09 LKR 362

15.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 LKR 365

$1.16 LKR 385

-5.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 LKR 454

$1.50 LKR 498

-8.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 397

$0.56 LKR 185

114.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 198

$0.52 LKR 172

15.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.01 LKR 3,319

$14.71 LKR 4,876

-31.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.61 LKR 4,182

$12.45 LKR 4,129

1.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 LKR 689

$2.22 LKR 738

-6.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 LKR 970

$3.12 LKR 1,034

-6.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 LKR 137

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 127

$0.39 LKR 129

-2.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 109

$0.53 LKR 176

-37.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 191

$0.34 LKR 113

70.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 418

$1.07 LKR 353

17.76%

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

$27.2K LKR 9.0M

$22.1K LKR 7.3M

23.34%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

$21.3K LKR 7.1M

65.34%

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

$61.2 LKR 20.3K

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

$4.38 LKR 1,451

$2.33 LKR 773

87.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.07 LKR 4,996

$8.13 LKR 2,697

85.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.18 LKR 3,377

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,087

$2.66 LKR 884

23.31%

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

$37.37 LKR 12.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$438 LKR 145.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.33 LKR 9,063

$11.76 LKR 3,901

132.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.22 LKR 6,373

$8.56 LKR 2,838

124.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.5 LKR 22.7K

$93.5 LKR 31.0K

-26.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.67 LKR 12.8K

$28.55 LKR 9,466

35.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$85.0 LKR 28.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.4 LKR 19.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.3 LKR 30.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$150 LKR 49.7K

$172 LKR 57.0K

-12.78%

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 Beruwala: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ratnapura pays 15% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $25.00 in Beruwala vs $10.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries flip the comparison at $255 vs $282, with Beruwala 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

Beruwala vs Ratnapura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

On paper, Ratnapura earns 15% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Dining out is cheaper in Ratnapura – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $25.00 in Beruwala. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Shoppers in Beruwala pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

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, Beruwala 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.

It comes down to priorities – Ratnapura wins on affordability, Beruwala on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.