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: $587 in Hikkaduwa versus $531 in Ratnapura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,120 in Hikkaduwa versus $838 in Ratnapura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,653 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,145 in Ratnapura.

Living in Hikkaduwa is roughly 10% more expensive than Ratnapura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hikkaduwa 56% lower, Ratnapura 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.93 LKR 1,311

$2.21 LKR 737

77.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.89 LKR 8,302

$10.19 LKR 3,399

144.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.56 LKR 2,855

$6.55 LKR 2,184

30.69%

Cappuccino

$2.64 LKR 879

$2.40 LKR 800

10.00%

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

$0.72 LKR 242

$0.80 LKR 267

-10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 LKR 114

$0.52 LKR 173

-34.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 LKR 769

$2.12 LKR 706

8.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 LKR 1,103

$3.02 LKR 1,008

9.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 LKR 582

$1.98 LKR 661

-11.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 176

$0.83 LKR 277

-36.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 270

$0.72 LKR 239

12.50%

Eggs

$2.21 LKR 737

$1.19 LKR 399

85.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.05 LKR 4,688

$16.56 LKR 5,523

-15.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.56 LKR 1,522

$7.21 LKR 2,404

-36.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.92 LKR 2,641

$17.39 LKR 5,799

-54.46%

Apples (1kg)

$7.50 LKR 2,501

$4.59 LKR 1,532

63.40%

Banana (1kg)

$0.34 LKR 114

$0.78 LKR 259

-56.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 LKR 870

$4.74 LKR 1,583

-44.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 LKR 327

$1.08 LKR 361

-9.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 371

$1.17 LKR 389

-5.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.36 LKR 120

$1.58 LKR 528

-77.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 LKR 385

$0.53 LKR 176

116.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 188

$0.48 LKR 159

16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.94 LKR 3,314

$14.80 LKR 4,936

-32.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.77 LKR 4,259

$12.63 LKR 4,214

1.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 LKR 674

$2.31 LKR 771

-12.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 LKR 949

$3.20 LKR 1,067

-11.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 LKR 106

$0.41 LKR 137

-21.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 127

$0.41 LKR 138

-7.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 109

$0.52 LKR 175

-36.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 204

$0.34 LKR 114

79.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 404

$1.07 LKR 356

13.08%

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

$26.5K LKR 8.8M

$21.9K LKR 7.3M

20.93%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.8M

$21.6K LKR 7.2M

63.21%

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

$59.7 LKR 19.9K

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

$4.34 LKR 1,449

$2.26 LKR 754

92.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.42 LKR 5,144

$7.81 LKR 2,605

97.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.22 LKR 3,410

Cinema Ticket

$3.27 LKR 1,091

$2.60 LKR 869

25.77%

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

$36.65 LKR 12.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$444 LKR 148.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.54 LKR 9,185

$11.64 LKR 3,883

136.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.60 LKR 6,537

$8.47 LKR 2,824

131.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.8 LKR 22.9K

$94.7 LKR 31.6K

-27.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.26 LKR 13.1K

$28.23 LKR 9,416

39.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 LKR 55.8K

$82.6 LKR 27.6K

102.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$84.8 LKR 28.3K

$59.9 LKR 20.0K

41.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,685 LKR 561.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$509 LKR 169.7K

$94.1 LKR 31.4K

440.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 LKR 55.0K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $167 in Hikkaduwa and $82.6 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 $283, 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 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $881 in Hikkaduwa and $797 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: $167 in Hikkaduwa versus $82.6 in Ratnapura. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Hikkaduwa pay roughly 21% 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 10% less than in Hikkaduwa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.