🙂A single person spends $472 per month in Maharagama vs $523 in Ratnapura, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $789 per month in Maharagama vs $854 in Ratnapura, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,106 per month in Maharagama vs $1,185 in Ratnapura, rent included.
🙂Maharagama is about 10% cheaper than Ratnapura, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Maharagama and Ratnapura are more affordable than the global median – Maharagama65% lower, Ratnapura61% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Maharagama
Ratnapura
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$2.22LKR 709
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$10.12LKR 3,228
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$6.90LKR 2,199
-
Cappuccino
-
$2.32LKR 739
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.80LKR 255
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.51LKR 164
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.12LKR 677
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.04LKR 970
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maharagama
Ratnapura
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.95LKR 622
$1.96LKR 624
-0.51%
White Bread(500g)
$0.51LKR 163
$0.81LKR 257
-37.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.76LKR 243
$0.67LKR 213
13.43%
Eggs
$2.11LKR 672
$1.18LKR 376
78.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.26LKR 5,186
$16.59LKR 5,290
-1.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.78LKR 1,842
$7.00LKR 2,231
-17.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.74LKR 3,425
$17.62LKR 5,619
-39.05%
Apples(1kg)
$11.49LKR 3,665
$4.60LKR 1,467
149.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.23LKR 392
$0.78LKR 248
57.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$10.00LKR 3,188
$4.56LKR 1,455
119.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.85LKR 591
$1.06LKR 338
74.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16LKR 368
$1.11LKR 353
4.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16LKR 371
$1.57LKR 502
-26.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.63LKR 519
$0.52LKR 166
213.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61LKR 193
$0.48LKR 152
27.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.78LKR 3,118
$14.35LKR 4,578
-31.85%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$12.91LKR 4,118
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99LKR 635
$2.25LKR 718
-11.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24LKR 1,033
$3.16LKR 1,008
2.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Maharagama
Ratnapura
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.38LKR 121
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.30LKR 1,051
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.32LKR 101
$0.42LKR 133
-23.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31LKR 99.5
$0.48LKR 155
-35.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$0.32LKR 101
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37LKR 438
$1.04LKR 330
31.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.5KLKR 6.8M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$21.8KLKR 7.0M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maharagama
Ratnapura
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.7LKR 17.1K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.44LKR 1,097
$2.25LKR 719
52.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.68LKR 4,044
$7.87LKR 2,511
61.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maharagama
Ratnapura
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$13.44LKR 4,288
$9.92LKR 3,165
35.48%
Cinema Ticket
$5.09LKR 1,622
$2.70LKR 862
88.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maharagama
Ratnapura
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$68.0LKR 21.7K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$510LKR 162.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maharagama
Ratnapura
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.77LKR 7,899
$11.55LKR 3,682
114.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$13.55LKR 4,322
$8.61LKR 2,747
57.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$54.8LKR 17.5K
$93.7LKR 29.9K
-41.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.3LKR 18.6K
$28.14LKR 8,973
107.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maharagama
Ratnapura
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$85.2LKR 27.2K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$60.4LKR 19.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$165LKR 52.5K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$116LKR 36.9K
$92.6LKR 29.5K
25.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maharagama
Ratnapura
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$174LKR 55.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17
0
-
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Maharagama: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Ratnapura: April 27, 2026
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
Maharagama vs Ratnapura: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Ratnapura cheaper than Maharagama?
Yes – Ratnapura is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $709 per month in Maharagama and $784 in Ratnapura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Maharagama vs Ratnapura?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $472 in Maharagama and $523 in Ratnapura. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do food prices compare in Maharagama and Ratnapura?
Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Ratnapura – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,000 enough for either Maharagama or Ratnapura?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $472 in Maharagama and $523 in Ratnapura, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Maharagama or Ratnapura more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Maharagama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Maharagama or Ratnapura?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Maharagama. 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.
Maharagama vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado