Cost of Living Comparison Between Gampaha and Ratnapura Cost of Living Comparison Between Gampaha and Ratnapura

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $495 in Gampaha versus $520 in Ratnapura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $868 in Gampaha versus $847 in Ratnapura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,241 in Gampaha versus $1,173 in Ratnapura.

Living in Gampaha costs roughly 5% less than in Ratnapura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Gampaha 63% lower, Ratnapura 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.63 LKR 539

$2.21 LKR 733

-26.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.26 LKR 8,374

$9.89 LKR 3,280

155.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.08 LKR 1,683

$6.73 LKR 2,230

-24.52%

Cappuccino

$2.22 LKR 735

$2.39 LKR 791

-7.11%

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

$0.70 LKR 232

$0.82 LKR 272

-14.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 LKR 124

$0.52 LKR 172

-28.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 LKR 706

$2.20 LKR 729

-3.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 LKR 545

$2.97 LKR 985

-44.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 LKR 573

$1.97 LKR 652

-12.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 173

$0.86 LKR 284

-39.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.73 LKR 244

$0.72 LKR 240

1.39%

Eggs

$2.21 LKR 733

$1.17 LKR 390

88.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.25 LKR 4,724

$16.64 LKR 5,518

-14.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.46 LKR 1,478

$6.84 LKR 2,267

-34.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.93 LKR 2,631

$17.39 LKR 5,765

-54.40%

Apples (1kg)

$6.80 LKR 2,254

$4.71 LKR 1,562

44.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 354

$0.82 LKR 271

30.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.67 LKR 1,881

$4.67 LKR 1,548

21.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 414

$1.09 LKR 362

14.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 354

$1.16 LKR 385

-7.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 LKR 445

$1.50 LKR 498

-10.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 LKR 115

$0.56 LKR 185

-37.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 126

$0.52 LKR 172

-26.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.00 LKR 3,314

$14.71 LKR 4,876

-32.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.06 LKR 4,332

$12.45 LKR 4,129

4.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 LKR 508

$2.22 LKR 738

-31.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 LKR 883

$3.12 LKR 1,034

-14.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 LKR 104

$0.41 LKR 137

-24.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.32 LKR 106

$0.39 LKR 129

-17.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 LKR 107

$0.53 LKR 176

-39.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 192

$0.34 LKR 113

70.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 402

$1.07 LKR 353

13.08%

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

$27.1K LKR 9.0M

$22.1K LKR 7.3M

22.62%

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

$34.3K LKR 11.4M

$21.3K LKR 7.1M

60.85%

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

$29.59 LKR 9,812

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

$3.41 LKR 1,131

$2.33 LKR 773

46.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.33 LKR 4,087

$8.13 LKR 2,697

51.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.60 LKR 2,850

$10.18 LKR 3,377

-15.52%

Cinema Ticket

$3.39 LKR 1,124

$2.66 LKR 884

27.44%

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

$16.54 LKR 5,484

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$136 LKR 45.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.10 LKR 9,317

$11.76 LKR 3,901

138.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.08 LKR 3,343

$8.56 LKR 2,838

17.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.9 LKR 22.5K

$93.5 LKR 31.0K

-27.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.03 LKR 8,963

$28.55 LKR 9,466

-5.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$98.5 LKR 32.7K

$85.0 LKR 28.2K

15.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$61.5 LKR 20.4K

$59.4 LKR 19.7K

3.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$341 LKR 113.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$187 LKR 61.8K

$92.3 LKR 30.6K

102.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$223 LKR 74.1K

$172 LKR 57.0K

29.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Gampaha: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $98.5 in Gampaha and $85.0 in Ratnapura. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gampaha pays 30% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $25.00 in Gampaha vs $10.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $282, with Gampaha 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

Gampaha vs Ratnapura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gampaha and Ratnapura differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($495 vs $520 including rent). Gampaha is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Gampaha pays 30% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $98.5 in Gampaha versus $85.0 in Ratnapura. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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

All in, you'll spend $495 per month in Gampaha versus $520 in Ratnapura – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Gampaha 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, Gampaha 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 Gampaha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Ratnapura. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.