Cost of Living Comparison Between Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura Cost of Living Comparison Between Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura

🙂 Solo nomad: Nuwara Eliya is 13.4% cheaper than Ratnapura without rent, and 1% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Nuwara Eliya is 15.5% more expensive than Ratnapura without rent, and 5.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nuwara Eliya
Ratnapura
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.08 LKR 1,218
$2.14 LKR 638
90.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.91 LKR 7,444
$10.03 LKR 2,997
148.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 LKR 2,554
$6.79 LKR 2,030
25.92%
Cappuccino
$2.72 LKR 811
$2.32 LKR 694
17.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 LKR 219
$0.8 LKR 240
-8.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 LKR 121
$0.48 LKR 143
-14.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.28 LKR 681
$2.14 LKR 638
6.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 LKR 997
$3.09 LKR 923
8.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nuwara Eliya
Ratnapura
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 LKR 505
$1.96 LKR 586
-13.78%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 LKR 167
$0.82 LKR 244
-31.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.81 LKR 242
$0.67 LKR 199
20.90%
Eggs
$2.23 LKR 666
$1.19 LKR 356
87.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.18 LKR 4,237
$16.64 LKR 4,972
-14.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.56 LKR 1,362
$6.83 LKR 2,041
-33.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.21 LKR 2,453
$17.57 LKR 5,250
-53.27%
Apples (1kg)
$7.56 LKR 2,258
$4.6 LKR 1,374
64.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 LKR 323
$0.76 LKR 228
42.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.72 LKR 1,709
$4.6 LKR 1,373
24.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.21 LKR 362
$1.09 LKR 326
11.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.1 LKR 330
$1.17 LKR 350
-5.98%
Onion (1kg)
$1.4 LKR 419
$1.58 LKR 472
-11.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 LKR 357
$0.53 LKR 158
124.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 LKR 165
$0.52 LKR 155
5.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.02 LKR 2,993
$14.66 LKR 4,381
-31.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.19 LKR 4,239
$13.56 LKR 4,052
4.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 LKR 607
$2.32 LKR 693
-12.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 LKR 890
$3.15 LKR 943
-5.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Nuwara Eliya
Ratnapura
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.41 LKR 123
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.41 LKR 124
$0.42 LKR 124
-2.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.36 LKR 106
$0.5 LKR 148
-28.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.6 LKR 179
$0.32 LKR 95.3
87.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 LKR 376
$1.02 LKR 306
23.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K LKR 8M
$21.4K LKR 6.4M
25.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2K LKR 10.2M
$22.1K LKR 6.6M
54.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nuwara Eliya
Ratnapura
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$60.1 LKR 18K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.25 LKR 1,269
$2.28 LKR 681
86.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.13 LKR 4,520
$8.23 LKR 2,459
83.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nuwara Eliya
Ratnapura
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$10.03 LKR 2,997
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.29 LKR 984
$2.65 LKR 791
24.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nuwara Eliya
Ratnapura
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$37.32 LKR 11.2K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$443 LKR 132.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nuwara Eliya
Ratnapura
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.16 LKR 8,117
$11.61 LKR 3,468
133.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.23 LKR 5,746
$8.44 LKR 2,521
127.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.2 LKR 20.4K
$94.5 LKR 28.2K
-27.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.18 LKR 11.7K
$28.97 LKR 8,657
35.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nuwara Eliya
Ratnapura
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$83.6 LKR 25K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$60.7 LKR 18.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$93.4 LKR 27.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nuwara Eliya
Ratnapura
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$186 LKR 55.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.45
0
-

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

Last update for Nuwara Eliya: October 27, 2025

Last update for Ratnapura: October 28, 2025

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