Cost of Living Comparison Between Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and Ratnapura Cost of Living Comparison Between Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and Ratnapura

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $526 per month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs $531 in Ratnapura, rent included.

A couple spends around $868 per month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs $838 in Ratnapura, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,210 per month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs $1,145 in Ratnapura, rent included.

Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia is about 1% cheaper than Ratnapura, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and Ratnapura are more affordable than the global median – Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia 61% lower, Ratnapura 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 LKR 1,328

$2.21 LKR 737

80.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.84 LKR 8,288

$10.19 LKR 3,399

143.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.48 LKR 2,829

$6.55 LKR 2,184

29.47%

Cappuccino

$2.75 LKR 916

$2.40 LKR 800

14.58%

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

$0.69 LKR 230

$0.80 LKR 267

-13.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 LKR 115

$0.52 LKR 173

-34.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 LKR 796

$2.12 LKR 706

12.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 LKR 1,144

$3.02 LKR 1,008

13.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 LKR 567

$1.98 LKR 661

-14.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 187

$0.83 LKR 277

-32.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 269

$0.72 LKR 239

12.50%

Eggs

$2.16 LKR 719

$1.19 LKR 399

81.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.09 LKR 4,701

$16.56 LKR 5,523

-14.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 LKR 1,579

$7.21 LKR 2,404

-34.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 LKR 2,630

$17.39 LKR 5,799

-54.69%

Apples (1kg)

$7.70 LKR 2,569

$4.59 LKR 1,532

67.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 LKR 367

$0.78 LKR 259

41.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.84 LKR 1,949

$4.74 LKR 1,583

23.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 LKR 403

$1.08 LKR 361

12.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 388

$1.17 LKR 389

-0.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 LKR 477

$1.58 LKR 528

-9.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 LKR 395

$0.53 LKR 176

122.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 189

$0.48 LKR 159

18.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.98 LKR 3,328

$14.80 LKR 4,936

-32.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.84 LKR 4,284

$12.63 LKR 4,214

1.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 LKR 692

$2.31 LKR 771

-10.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 LKR 994

$3.20 LKR 1,067

-6.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 LKR 137

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 139

$0.41 LKR 138

2.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 119

$0.52 LKR 175

-30.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 200

$0.34 LKR 114

76.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 LKR 416

$1.07 LKR 356

16.82%

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

$26.7K LKR 8.9M

$21.9K LKR 7.3M

21.69%

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

$35.3K LKR 11.8M

$21.6K LKR 7.2M

63.44%

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

$59.5 LKR 19.8K

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

$4.39 LKR 1,463

$2.26 LKR 754

94.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.94 LKR 4,984

$7.81 LKR 2,605

91.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.22 LKR 3,410

Cinema Ticket

$3.31 LKR 1,104

$2.60 LKR 869

27.31%

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

$36.93 LKR 12.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$448 LKR 149.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.64 LKR 9,221

$11.64 LKR 3,883

137.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.48 LKR 6,497

$8.47 LKR 2,824

129.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.4 LKR 23.2K

$94.7 LKR 31.6K

-26.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.55 LKR 12.9K

$28.23 LKR 9,416

36.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$82.6 LKR 27.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.9 LKR 20.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.1 LKR 31.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$205 LKR 68.5K

$165 LKR 55.0K

24.56%

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 Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia: June 9, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 25% higher in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia versus $10.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries tell a different story – $258 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs $283 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

Ratnapura costs about 1% more than Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $789 per month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and $797 in Ratnapura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $526 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and $531 in Ratnapura. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $526 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and $531 in Ratnapura, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia costs $526 versus $531 in Ratnapura. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

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.