🙂A single person spends $520 per month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs $523 in Ratnapura, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $857 per month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs $854 in Ratnapura, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,194 per month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs $1,185 in Ratnapura, rent included.
🙂Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and Ratnapura have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.
📊Both Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and Ratnapura are more affordable than the global median – Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia61% lower, Ratnapura61% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia
Ratnapura
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.94LKR 1,255
$2.22LKR 708
77.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.84LKR 7,914
$10.12LKR 3,225
145.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22LKR 2,620
$6.90LKR 2,197
19.13%
Cappuccino
$2.61LKR 833
$2.32LKR 739
12.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73LKR 232
$0.80LKR 255
-8.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32LKR 101
$0.51LKR 164
-37.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.27LKR 724
$2.12LKR 676
7.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41LKR 1,087
$3.04LKR 969
12.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia
Ratnapura
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73LKR 551
$1.96LKR 624
-11.73%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53LKR 168
$0.81LKR 257
-34.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87LKR 278
$0.67LKR 213
29.85%
Eggs
$2.22LKR 708
$1.18LKR 376
88.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.94LKR 4,441
$16.59LKR 5,285
-15.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.68LKR 1,493
$7.00LKR 2,229
-33.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.16LKR 2,600
$17.62LKR 5,614
-53.69%
Apples(1kg)
$7.44LKR 2,370
$4.60LKR 1,466
61.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07LKR 340
$0.78LKR 248
37.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.82LKR 1,855
$4.56LKR 1,454
27.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.20LKR 382
$1.06LKR 337
13.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16LKR 368
$1.11LKR 353
4.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42LKR 453
$1.57LKR 502
-9.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15LKR 367
$0.52LKR 166
121.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55LKR 176
$0.48LKR 152
14.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.08LKR 3,212
$14.35LKR 4,573
-29.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.56LKR 4,001
$12.91LKR 4,114
-2.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10LKR 668
$2.25LKR 717
-6.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89LKR 920
$3.16LKR 1,007
-8.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia
Ratnapura
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.38LKR 121
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.42LKR 133
$0.42LKR 133
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35LKR 113
$0.48LKR 154
-27.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.60LKR 192
$0.32LKR 101
87.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25LKR 397
$1.04LKR 330
20.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2KLKR 8.7M
$21.5KLKR 6.8M
26.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7KLKR 11.1M
$21.8KLKR 7.0M
59.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia
Ratnapura
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.7LKR 19.3K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.44LKR 1,415
$2.25LKR 718
97.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.89LKR 4,745
$7.87LKR 2,508
89.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia
Ratnapura
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$9.92LKR 3,162
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.42LKR 1,090
$2.70LKR 861
26.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia
Ratnapura
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$37.47LKR 11.9K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$436LKR 138.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia
Ratnapura
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.53LKR 8,772
$11.55LKR 3,678
138.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.45LKR 6,196
$8.61LKR 2,745
125.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.1LKR 22.0K
$93.7LKR 29.9K
-26.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.02LKR 12.1K
$28.14LKR 8,965
35.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia
Ratnapura
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$85.2LKR 27.2K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$60.4LKR 19.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$92.6LKR 29.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia
Ratnapura
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$216LKR 68.8K
$174LKR 55.3K
24.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.45
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia: April 26, 2026
Last update for Ratnapura: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 24% higher in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia versus $10.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries tell a different story – $256 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs $282 in Ratnapura – so Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs Ratnapura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia or Ratnapura?
Ratnapura costs about 1% more than Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs Ratnapura?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $780 per month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and $784 in Ratnapura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia compared to Ratnapura?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $520 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and $523 in Ratnapura. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia or Ratnapura?
Groceries cost about 10% more in Ratnapura, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $800/month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia or Ratnapura?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $520 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and $523 in Ratnapura, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia or Ratnapura?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia costs $520 versus $523 in Ratnapura. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia compared to Ratnapura?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia or Ratnapura?
If budget matters most, go with Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ratnapura makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs other spots: cost of living compared