Cost of Living Comparison Between Kolonnawa and Ratnapura Cost of Living Comparison Between Kolonnawa and Ratnapura

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $507 per month in Kolonnawa vs $531 in Ratnapura, rent included.

A couple spends around $826 per month in Kolonnawa vs $838 in Ratnapura, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,144 per month in Kolonnawa vs $1,145 in Ratnapura, rent included.

Kolonnawa is about 5% cheaper than Ratnapura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kolonnawa and Ratnapura are more affordable than the global median – Kolonnawa 62% lower, Ratnapura 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.08 LKR 1,361

$2.21 LKR 737

84.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.32 LKR 8,445

$10.19 LKR 3,399

148.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.28 LKR 2,761

$6.55 LKR 2,184

26.41%

Cappuccino

$2.75 LKR 918

$2.40 LKR 800

14.58%

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

$0.69 LKR 231

$0.80 LKR 267

-13.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 126

$0.52 LKR 173

-26.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 LKR 767

$2.12 LKR 706

8.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 LKR 1,088

$3.02 LKR 1,008

7.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 LKR 573

$1.98 LKR 661

-13.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 174

$0.83 LKR 277

-37.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.74 LKR 247

$0.72 LKR 239

2.78%

Eggs

$2.16 LKR 719

$1.19 LKR 399

81.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 LKR 2,755

$16.56 LKR 5,523

-50.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 LKR 1,572

$7.21 LKR 2,404

-34.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.07 LKR 2,693

$17.39 LKR 5,799

-53.59%

Apples (1kg)

$7.32 LKR 2,442

$4.59 LKR 1,532

59.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 358

$0.78 LKR 259

37.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 LKR 1,935

$4.74 LKR 1,583

22.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 422

$1.08 LKR 361

16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 LKR 366

$1.17 LKR 389

-5.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 LKR 466

$1.58 LKR 528

-11.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 LKR 383

$0.53 LKR 176

116.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 172

$0.48 LKR 159

8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.92 LKR 3,310

$14.80 LKR 4,936

-32.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.34 LKR 3,447

$12.63 LKR 4,214

-18.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 LKR 664

$2.31 LKR 771

-13.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 LKR 809

$3.20 LKR 1,067

-24.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 LKR 137

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 137

$0.41 LKR 138

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 117

$0.52 LKR 175

-32.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 200

$0.34 LKR 114

76.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 401

$1.07 LKR 356

12.15%

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

$27.0K LKR 9.0M

$21.9K LKR 7.3M

23.13%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

$21.6K LKR 7.2M

63.07%

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

$59.9 LKR 20.0K

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

$4.21 LKR 1,404

$2.26 LKR 754

86.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.88 LKR 4,964

$7.81 LKR 2,605

90.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.13 LKR 3,379

$10.22 LKR 3,410

-0.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.66 LKR 553

Cinema Ticket

$3.38 LKR 1,129

$2.60 LKR 869

30.00%

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

$37.47 LKR 12.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$439 LKR 146.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.75 LKR 9,258

$11.64 LKR 3,883

138.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.76 LKR 6,591

$8.47 LKR 2,824

133.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.2 LKR 22.7K

$94.7 LKR 31.6K

-28.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.86 LKR 13.0K

$28.23 LKR 9,416

37.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$82.6 LKR 27.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.9 LKR 20.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.1 LKR 31.4K

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 Kolonnawa: June 6, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Kolonnawa versus $10.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries tell a different story – $231 in Kolonnawa vs $283 in Ratnapura – so Kolonnawa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Kolonnawa vs Ratnapura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ratnapura costs about 5% more than Kolonnawa, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $761 per month in Kolonnawa and $797 in Ratnapura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $507 in Kolonnawa and $531 in Ratnapura. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Ratnapura, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $507 in Kolonnawa and $531 in Ratnapura, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kolonnawa costs $507 versus $531 in Ratnapura. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Kolonnawa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ratnapura makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.