😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $523 in Ratnapura.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $854 in Ratnapura.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $1,185 in Ratnapura.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 326% more expensive than Ratnapura, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Ratnapura is 61% below.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ratnapura
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$2.22LKR 709
628.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$10.12LKR 3,228
538.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$6.90LKR 2,199
50.43%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$2.32LKR 739
19.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$0.80LKR 255
181.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.51LKR 164
207.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$2.12LKR 677
64.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$3.04LKR 970
31.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ratnapura
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.96LKR 624
-44.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$0.81LKR 257
114.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$0.67LKR 213
159.70%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$1.18LKR 376
169.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$16.59LKR 5,290
-19.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$7.00LKR 2,231
14.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$17.62LKR 5,619
-8.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$4.60LKR 1,467
-50.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$0.78LKR 248
120.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$4.56LKR 1,455
-57.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$1.06LKR 338
139.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.11LKR 353
64.86%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.57LKR 502
29.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$0.52LKR 166
280.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.48LKR 152
77.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$14.35LKR 4,578
-52.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$12.91LKR 4,118
-55.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$2.25LKR 718
-39.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$3.16LKR 1,008
-8.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ratnapura
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.38LKR 121
500.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$0.42LKR 133
871.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.48LKR 155
70.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$0.32LKR 101
5609.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$1.04LKR 330
93.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$21.5KLKR 6.8M
64.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$21.8KLKR 7.0M
76.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ratnapura
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$2.25LKR 719
831.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$7.87LKR 2,511
408.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ratnapura
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$9.92LKR 3,165
391.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$2.70LKR 862
235.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ratnapura
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ratnapura
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$11.55LKR 3,682
806.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$8.61LKR 2,747
375.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$93.7LKR 29.9K
-0.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$28.14LKR 8,973
321.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ratnapura
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$85.2LKR 27.2K
1781.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$60.4LKR 19.3K
1944.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$92.6LKR 29.5K
2120.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ratnapura
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$174LKR 55.3K
812.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
0
-
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Ratnapura: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $85.2 in Ratnapura. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 813% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $10.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries flip the comparison at $271 vs $282, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Lisbon vs Ratnapura: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Ratnapura?
Lisbon and Ratnapura differ by about 326% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $523 including rent). Ratnapura is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Ratnapura?
Lisbon pays 813% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Ratnapura?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $85.2 in Ratnapura. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ratnapura – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $65.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Ratnapura?
All in, you'll spend $2,227 per month in Lisbon versus $523 in Ratnapura – a 326% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $523 in Ratnapura versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ratnapura but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ratnapura the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Ratnapura?
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.
Is Lisbon or Ratnapura safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon 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.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Ratnapura?
Expats usually find Ratnapura gentler on the wallet – expenses run 326% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.