Cost of Living Comparison Between Hikkaduwa and Ratnapura Cost of Living Comparison Between Hikkaduwa and Ratnapura

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $582 in Hikkaduwa versus $523 in Ratnapura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,102 in Hikkaduwa versus $854 in Ratnapura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,621 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,185 in Ratnapura.

Living in Hikkaduwa is roughly 11% more expensive than Ratnapura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hikkaduwa 57% lower, Ratnapura 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.04 LKR 1,287

$2.22 LKR 709

81.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.16 LKR 8,024

$10.12 LKR 3,228

148.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.40 LKR 2,680

$6.90 LKR 2,199

21.74%

Cappuccino

$2.65 LKR 844

$2.32 LKR 739

14.22%

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

$0.70 LKR 222

$0.80 LKR 255

-12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 LKR 101

$0.51 LKR 164

-37.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 LKR 733

$2.12 LKR 677

8.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 LKR 1,040

$3.04 LKR 970

7.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 LKR 533

$1.96 LKR 624

-14.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 LKR 177

$0.81 LKR 257

-32.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 257

$0.67 LKR 213

20.90%

Eggs

$2.20 LKR 702

$1.18 LKR 376

86.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 LKR 4,453

$16.59 LKR 5,290

-15.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 LKR 1,502

$7.00 LKR 2,231

-32.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.95 LKR 2,534

$17.62 LKR 5,619

-54.88%

Apples (1kg)

$7.41 LKR 2,364

$4.60 LKR 1,467

61.09%

Banana (1kg)

$0.32 LKR 101

$0.78 LKR 248

-58.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.76 LKR 880

$4.56 LKR 1,455

-39.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 LKR 325

$1.06 LKR 338

-3.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 355

$1.11 LKR 353

Onion (1kg)

$0.36 LKR 115

$1.57 LKR 502

-77.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 LKR 377

$0.52 LKR 166

126.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 LKR 177

$0.48 LKR 152

14.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.19 LKR 3,249

$14.35 LKR 4,578

-28.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.31 LKR 3,927

$12.91 LKR 4,118

-4.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 LKR 670

$2.25 LKR 718

-6.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 LKR 955

$3.16 LKR 1,008

-5.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 LKR 102

$0.38 LKR 121

-15.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 124

$0.42 LKR 133

-7.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 105

$0.48 LKR 155

-31.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 183

$0.32 LKR 101

78.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 401

$1.04 LKR 330

21.15%

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

$26.3K LKR 8.4M

$21.5K LKR 6.8M

22.38%

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

$34.2K LKR 10.9M

$21.8K LKR 7.0M

56.47%

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

$59.4 LKR 18.9K

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

$4.22 LKR 1,345

$2.25 LKR 719

87.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.01 LKR 4,788

$7.87 LKR 2,511

90.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.92 LKR 3,165

Cinema Ticket

$3.40 LKR 1,086

$2.70 LKR 862

25.93%

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

$37.48 LKR 12.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$448 LKR 142.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.91 LKR 8,902

$11.55 LKR 3,682

141.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.04 LKR 6,071

$8.61 LKR 2,747

121.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 LKR 22.2K

$93.7 LKR 29.9K

-25.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.27 LKR 12.2K

$28.14 LKR 8,973

36.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$170 LKR 54.2K

$85.2 LKR 27.2K

99.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$82.5 LKR 26.3K

$60.4 LKR 19.3K

36.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,663 LKR 530.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 LKR 163.2K

$92.6 LKR 29.5K

452.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$174 LKR 55.3K

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 Hikkaduwa: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $170 in Hikkaduwa and $85.2 in Ratnapura. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Hikkaduwa vs $10.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries flip the comparison at $235 vs $282, with Hikkaduwa 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

Hikkaduwa vs Ratnapura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ratnapura is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $874 in Hikkaduwa and $784 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: $170 in Hikkaduwa versus $85.2 in Ratnapura. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Hikkaduwa pay roughly 20% 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 $25.00 in Hikkaduwa. 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, Hikkaduwa 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 11% less than in Hikkaduwa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.