Cost of Living Comparison Between Homagama and Ratnapura Cost of Living Comparison Between Homagama and Ratnapura

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $508 in Homagama versus $523 in Ratnapura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $807 in Homagama versus $854 in Ratnapura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,107 in Homagama versus $1,185 in Ratnapura.

Living in Homagama costs roughly 3% less than in Ratnapura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Homagama 62% lower, Ratnapura 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.91 LKR 1,247

$2.22 LKR 709

76.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.66 LKR 7,863

$10.12 LKR 3,228

143.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.45 LKR 2,694

$6.90 LKR 2,199

22.46%

Cappuccino

$2.72 LKR 866

$2.32 LKR 739

17.24%

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

$0.68 LKR 217

$0.80 LKR 255

-15.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 121

$0.51 LKR 164

-25.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 741

$2.12 LKR 677

9.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 LKR 1,036

$3.04 LKR 970

6.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 LKR 429

$1.96 LKR 624

-31.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 177

$0.81 LKR 257

-30.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.64 LKR 203

$0.67 LKR 213

-4.48%

Eggs

$2.04 LKR 651

$1.18 LKR 376

72.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.97 LKR 4,455

$16.59 LKR 5,290

-15.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.07 LKR 1,297

$7.00 LKR 2,231

-41.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.96 LKR 2,538

$17.62 LKR 5,619

-54.82%

Apples (1kg)

$7.55 LKR 2,407

$4.60 LKR 1,467

64.13%

Banana (1kg)

$0.99 LKR 315

$0.78 LKR 248

26.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.96 LKR 1,902

$4.56 LKR 1,455

30.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 399

$1.06 LKR 338

17.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 367

$1.11 LKR 353

3.60%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 LKR 312

$1.57 LKR 502

-37.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 LKR 380

$0.52 LKR 166

128.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 LKR 164

$0.48 LKR 152

6.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.20 LKR 3,253

$14.35 LKR 4,578

-28.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.77 LKR 4,073

$12.91 LKR 4,118

-1.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 LKR 624

$2.25 LKR 718

-12.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 LKR 734

$3.16 LKR 1,008

-27.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 LKR 156

$0.38 LKR 121

28.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 123

$0.42 LKR 133

-7.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 112

$0.48 LKR 155

-27.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 181

$0.32 LKR 101

78.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 LKR 399

$1.04 LKR 330

20.19%

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

$15.0K LKR 4.8M

$21.5K LKR 6.8M

-30.34%

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

$23.2K LKR 7.4M

$21.8K LKR 7.0M

6.13%

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

$23.32 LKR 7,437

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

$3.32 LKR 1,060

$2.25 LKR 719

47.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.29 LKR 4,875

$7.87 LKR 2,511

94.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.57 LKR 2,097

$9.92 LKR 3,165

-33.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.38 LKR 1,079

Cinema Ticket

$3.29 LKR 1,050

$2.70 LKR 862

21.85%

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

$37.35 LKR 11.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$443 LKR 141.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.74 LKR 8,846

$11.55 LKR 3,682

140.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.23 LKR 4,220

$8.61 LKR 2,747

53.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$26.43 LKR 8,427

$93.7 LKR 29.9K

-71.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.62 LKR 9,764

$28.14 LKR 8,973

8.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$109 LKR 34.8K

$85.2 LKR 27.2K

28.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$49.90 LKR 15.9K

$60.4 LKR 19.3K

-17.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.6 LKR 29.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$155 LKR 49.3K

$174 LKR 55.3K

-10.90%

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 Homagama: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $109 in Homagama and $85.2 in Ratnapura. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ratnapura pays 12% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $25.00 in Homagama vs $10.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries flip the comparison at $246 vs $282, with Homagama 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

Homagama vs Ratnapura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Homagama is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Ratnapura earns 12% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $109 in Homagama versus $85.2 in Ratnapura. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Ratnapura. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Homagama – 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.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Homagama gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Homagama is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ratnapura, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Homagama 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 Homagama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Ratnapura. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.