Cost of Living Comparison Between Kandy and Ratnapura Cost of Living Comparison Between Kandy and Ratnapura

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $535 in Kandy versus $520 in Ratnapura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $854 in Kandy versus $849 in Ratnapura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,173 in Kandy versus $1,177 in Ratnapura.

Living in Kandy is roughly 3% more expensive than in Ratnapura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kandy 60% lower, Ratnapura 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.75 LKR 924

$2.20 LKR 740

25.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.88 LKR 3,992

$10.01 LKR 3,365

18.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.36 LKR 2,138

$6.51 LKR 2,188

-2.30%

Cappuccino

$2.63 LKR 885

$2.29 LKR 771

14.85%

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

$0.60 LKR 201

$0.80 LKR 270

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 LKR 109

$0.48 LKR 161

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 LKR 716

$2.15 LKR 722

-0.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 LKR 1,134

$3.02 LKR 1,016

11.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 LKR 473

$2.00 LKR 672

-29.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 173

$0.82 LKR 274

-36.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 LKR 289

$0.72 LKR 242

19.44%

Eggs

$2.17 LKR 729

$1.23 LKR 415

76.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.61 LKR 2,894

$16.20 LKR 5,445

-46.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.53 LKR 1,524

$7.09 LKR 2,382

-36.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.97 LKR 2,680

$17.39 LKR 5,847

-54.17%

Apples (1kg)

$4.48 LKR 1,507

$4.60 LKR 1,545

-2.61%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 LKR 327

$0.77 LKR 260

25.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.77 LKR 1,266

$4.58 LKR 1,541

-17.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 LKR 405

$1.08 LKR 364

12.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 391

$1.13 LKR 380

2.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 420

$1.52 LKR 510

-17.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 LKR 262

$0.55 LKR 185

41.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 188

$0.48 LKR 160

16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.28 LKR 3,119

$14.44 LKR 4,854

-35.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.47 LKR 3,854

$12.35 LKR 4,152

-7.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 LKR 705

$2.32 LKR 781

-9.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 LKR 921

$3.11 LKR 1,045

-11.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 LKR 59.6

$0.41 LKR 139

-56.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.28 LKR 5,136

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 130

$0.41 LKR 138

-4.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 110

$0.53 LKR 179

-37.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.43 LKR 146

$0.34 LKR 115

26.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 LKR 421

$1.07 LKR 358

16.82%

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

$17.8K LKR 6.0M

$21.6K LKR 7.3M

-17.91%

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

$21.7K LKR 7.3M

$21.4K LKR 7.2M

1.21%

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

$40.58 LKR 13.6K

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

$4.37 LKR 1,470

$2.30 LKR 774

90.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.38 LKR 5,170

$8.26 LKR 2,777

86.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.79 LKR 4,970

$10.15 LKR 3,412

45.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.71 LKR 1,919

Cinema Ticket

$3.42 LKR 1,150

$2.63 LKR 885

30.04%

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

$36.45 LKR 12.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$324 LKR 108.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.66 LKR 9,298

$11.89 LKR 3,998

132.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.38 LKR 4,833

$8.19 LKR 2,754

75.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.1 LKR 18.8K

$94.1 LKR 31.6K

-40.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.16 LKR 10.1K

$28.09 LKR 9,443

7.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$136 LKR 45.9K

$82.2 LKR 27.6K

66.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.4 LKR 28.0K

$59.3 LKR 19.9K

40.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$219 LKR 73.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$161 LKR 54.2K

$95.0 LKR 31.9K

69.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$392 LKR 131.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$399 LKR 134.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$261 LKR 87.6K

$167 LKR 56.1K

55.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Kandy: July 21, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $136 in Kandy and $82.2 in Ratnapura. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kandy pays 56% 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: $12.00 in Kandy vs $10.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries flip the comparison at $208 vs $280, with Kandy 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

Kandy vs Ratnapura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ratnapura is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 56% higher in Kandy, 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: $136 in Kandy versus $82.2 in Ratnapura. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Kandy pay roughly 35% 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 $12.00 in Kandy. 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.

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

Safety-wise, Kandy 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 3% less than in Kandy. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.