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: $506 in Hikkaduwa versus $461 in Ratnapura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $824 in Hikkaduwa versus $749 in Ratnapura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,143 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,037 in Ratnapura.

Living in Hikkaduwa is roughly 10% more expensive than in Ratnapura, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hikkaduwa 63% lower, Ratnapura 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.36 LKR 1,438

$1.88 LKR 621

131.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.28 LKR 8,341

$9.02 LKR 2,975

180.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.51 LKR 2,479

$5.99 LKR 1,975

25.38%

Cappuccino

$2.36 LKR 779

$2.11 LKR 695

11.85%

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

$0.67 LKR 222

$0.78 LKR 256

-14.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 LKR 81.8

$0.43 LKR 142

-41.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 LKR 744

$1.97 LKR 651

14.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 LKR 958

$2.76 LKR 910

5.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 LKR 527

$1.74 LKR 575

-8.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 LKR 169

$0.72 LKR 238

-29.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.74 LKR 246

$0.65 LKR 216

13.85%

Eggs

$1.53 LKR 506

$1.04 LKR 344

47.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.98 LKR 4,283

$14.71 LKR 4,853

-11.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.75 LKR 1,567

$6.41 LKR 2,114

-25.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.19 LKR 2,373

$15.46 LKR 5,099

-53.49%

Apples (1kg)

$6.65 LKR 2,192

$4.28 LKR 1,412

55.37%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 LKR 277

$0.70 LKR 230

20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.60 LKR 1,517

$4.14 LKR 1,365

11.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 LKR 402

$0.91 LKR 300

34.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 LKR 309

$1.03 LKR 339

-8.74%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 LKR 242

$1.35 LKR 445

-45.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 LKR 302

$0.46 LKR 153

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 LKR 156

$0.43 LKR 143

9.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.00 LKR 3,298

$13.03 LKR 4,297

-23.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.17 LKR 4,344

$12.28 LKR 4,051

7.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 LKR 614

$1.97 LKR 650

-5.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 LKR 875

$2.85 LKR 939

-7.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 LKR 115

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 125

$0.35 LKR 114

8.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 115

$0.46 LKR 152

-23.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 LKR 297

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 415

$0.93 LKR 306

35.48%

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

$30.3K LKR 10.0M

$19.2K LKR 6.3M

57.65%

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

$38.6K LKR 12.7M

$19.3K LKR 6.4M

99.30%

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

$51.8 LKR 17.1K

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

$4.13 LKR 1,363

$1.97 LKR 650

109.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.46 LKR 6,750

$7.22 LKR 2,380

183.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.00 LKR 2,968

Cinema Ticket

$4.11 LKR 1,354

$2.37 LKR 781

73.42%

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

$37.49 LKR 12.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,209 LKR 398.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.71 LKR 6,503

$10.26 LKR 3,386

92.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.12 LKR 5,319

$7.36 LKR 2,429

119.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.3 LKR 26.5K

$82.8 LKR 27.3K

-3.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.58 LKR 14.0K

$25.60 LKR 8,443

66.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.8 LKR 24.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$53.1 LKR 17.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.9 LKR 27.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 LKR 54.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

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

Last update for Hikkaduwa: August 15, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Hikkaduwa vs $9.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries flip the comparison at $232 vs $254, 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 $759 in Hikkaduwa and $692 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.

Shoppers in Hikkaduwa pay roughly 9% 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 $9.00 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.