Cost of Living Comparison Between Moratuwa and Ratnapura Cost of Living Comparison Between Moratuwa and Ratnapura

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $72.9 per month in Moratuwa vs $520 in Ratnapura, rent included.

A couple spends around $125 per month in Moratuwa vs $847 in Ratnapura, rent included.

A family of three spends $177 per month in Moratuwa vs $1,173 in Ratnapura, rent included.

Moratuwa is about 86% cheaper than Ratnapura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Moratuwa and Ratnapura are more affordable than the global median – Moratuwa 95% lower, Ratnapura 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.21 LKR 733

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.89 LKR 3,280

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.73 LKR 2,230

Cappuccino

$2.39 LKR 791

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

$0.82 LKR 272

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 172

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 LKR 729

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 985

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 LKR 463

$1.97 LKR 652

-28.93%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 LKR 161

$0.86 LKR 284

-43.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 LKR 306

$0.72 LKR 240

27.78%

Eggs

$2.62 LKR 870

$1.17 LKR 390

123.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.62 LKR 4,518

$16.64 LKR 5,518

-18.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.84 LKR 2,267

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.39 LKR 5,765

Apples (1kg)

$4.71 LKR 1,562

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 271

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 LKR 1,548

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 LKR 362

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 385

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 LKR 498

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 LKR 185

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 172

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.71 LKR 4,876

Wine (Bottle)

$12.45 LKR 4,129

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 LKR 738

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 LKR 1,034

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.11 LKR 36.05

$0.41 LKR 137

-73.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 129

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 LKR 176

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.34 LKR 113

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 LKR 353

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

$22.1K LKR 7.3M

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

$21.3K LKR 7.1M

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

$2.33 LKR 773

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.13 LKR 2,697

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.18 LKR 3,377

Cinema Ticket

$2.66 LKR 884

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.76 LKR 3,901

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.56 LKR 2,838

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.5 LKR 31.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.55 LKR 9,466

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$85.0 LKR 28.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.4 LKR 19.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.3 LKR 30.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 LKR 57.0K

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

Last update for Moratuwa: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: May 31, 2026

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

Moratuwa vs Ratnapura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ratnapura is pricier by about 614%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $109 per month in Moratuwa and $780 in Ratnapura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $72.9 in Moratuwa and $520 in Ratnapura. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 281% more in Ratnapura, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $72.9 in Moratuwa and $520 in Ratnapura, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Moratuwa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Moratuwa. 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.