Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Moratuwa and Ratnapura

For one person, living is cheaper in Moratuwa: $131 a month against $477 in Ratnapura, rent and utilities included – about $4,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Ratnapura
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Ratnapura Living Index

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Moratuwa

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

$131

/mo nomad

Ratnapura

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

$477

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Moratuwa and in Ratnapura

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Moratuwa and in Ratnapura actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $131 per month in Moratuwa vs $477 in Ratnapura, rent included.

Moratuwa $131
Ratnapura $477

A couple spends around $211 per month in Moratuwa vs $765 in Ratnapura, rent included.

Moratuwa $211
Ratnapura $765

A family of three spends $291 per month in Moratuwa vs $1,054 in Ratnapura, rent included.

Moratuwa $291
Ratnapura $1,054

Moratuwa is about 72% cheaper than Ratnapura, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Moratuwa and Ratnapura are more affordable than the global median – Moratuwa 90% lower, Ratnapura 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 LKR 647

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.22 LKR 3,066

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.06 LKR 2,014

Cappuccino

$1.84 LKR 611

$2.08 LKR 691

-11.54%

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

$0.71 LKR 234

$0.73 LKR 244

-2.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 LKR 49.28

$0.44 LKR 146

-65.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 LKR 616

$1.93 LKR 642

-4.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 LKR 816

$2.77 LKR 921

-11.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 LKR 417

$1.84 LKR 612

-32.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 LKR 154

$0.79 LKR 263

-41.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 272

$0.66 LKR 219

24.24%

Eggs

$2.36 LKR 785

$1.07 LKR 357

120.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.27 LKR 4,078

$14.73 LKR 4,898

-16.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.39 LKR 2,125

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.60 LKR 5,186

Apples (1kg)

$4.26 LKR 1,417

Banana (1kg)

$0.46 LKR 154

$0.75 LKR 248

-38.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 LKR 1,378

Tomato (1kg)

$0.94 LKR 311

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 LKR 349

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 LKR 465

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 LKR 154

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 LKR 144

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.86 LKR 4,274

Wine (Bottle)

$12.92 LKR 4,296

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 LKR 693

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 LKR 959

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 LKR 115

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.37 LKR 124

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 LKR 146

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 LKR 331

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

$19.8K LKR 6.6M

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

$19.6K LKR 6.5M

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

$4.44 LKR 1,475

$2.07 LKR 687

114.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.41 LKR 2,462

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.01 LKR 4,989

$9.13 LKR 3,034

64.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.08 LKR 1,024

Cinema Ticket

$2.39 LKR 794

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.48 LKR 3,484

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$6.05 LKR 2,013

$7.70 LKR 2,561

-21.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.3 LKR 28.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.89 LKR 8,608

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.1 LKR 25.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$54.6 LKR 18.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$84.6 LKR 28.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$166 LKR 55.3K

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

Last update for Moratuwa: October 27, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Moratuwa

–

Ratnapura

$258 54.2%

Eating Out

Moratuwa

–

Ratnapura

$79 16.5%

Clothing & Footwear

Moratuwa

–

Ratnapura

$58 12.1%

Accommodation & Living

Moratuwa

–

Ratnapura

$55 11.5%

Sport & Entertainment

Moratuwa

–

Ratnapura

$14 2.9%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Moratuwa

–

Ratnapura

$9.5 * 2%

Getting Around

Moratuwa

–

Ratnapura

$4 * 0.8%

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Good to know

🇱🇰 Moratuwa

🇱🇰 Ratnapura

🕒 Local time

07:26 7:26 AM

Same time as Moratuwa

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

207,000

52,100

💱 Currency

Sri Lankan Rupee LKR Rs

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD

1,000 LKR = 2.7 EUR

1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD

1,000 LKR = 2.7 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Moratuwa Ratnapura 58 km

From you

Moratuwa
Ratnapura

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 263%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $197 per month in Moratuwa and $715 in Ratnapura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $131 in Moratuwa and $477 in Ratnapura. That makes Moratuwa about 72% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 272% more in Ratnapura, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $131 in Moratuwa and $477 in Ratnapura, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Moratuwa has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $131 in Moratuwa to $477 in Ratnapura. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.