Cost of Living Comparison Between Polonnaruwa and Ratnapura Cost of Living Comparison Between Polonnaruwa and Ratnapura

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $500 per month in Polonnaruwa vs $484 in Ratnapura, rent included.

A couple spends around $830 per month in Polonnaruwa vs $779 in Ratnapura, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,161 per month in Polonnaruwa vs $1,073 in Ratnapura, rent included.

Polonnaruwa costs about 3% more than Ratnapura, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Polonnaruwa and Ratnapura are more affordable than the global median – Polonnaruwa 63% lower, Ratnapura 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.29 LKR 1,418

$1.94 LKR 640

121.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.83 LKR 8,542

$9.13 LKR 3,019

182.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 LKR 2,588

$6.17 LKR 2,040

26.90%

Cappuccino

$2.47 LKR 816

$2.12 LKR 700

16.51%

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

$0.73 LKR 241

$0.74 LKR 244

-1.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 LKR 82.6

$0.47 LKR 157

-46.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 LKR 724

$2.02 LKR 668

8.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 LKR 1,024

$2.71 LKR 896

14.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 LKR 516

$1.81 LKR 600

-13.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 175

$0.77 LKR 256

-31.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 267

$0.61 LKR 203

32.79%

Eggs

$1.64 LKR 543

$1.08 LKR 357

51.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.05 LKR 4,315

$15.01 LKR 4,963

-13.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 LKR 1,694

$6.31 LKR 2,086

-18.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.39 LKR 2,444

$15.81 LKR 5,229

-53.26%

Apples (1kg)

$6.87 LKR 2,270

$4.40 LKR 1,454

56.14%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 292

$0.76 LKR 251

15.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 LKR 1,389

$4.26 LKR 1,407

-1.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 411

$1.00 LKR 332

24.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 LKR 335

$1.06 LKR 352

-4.72%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 252

$1.44 LKR 477

-47.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 LKR 308

$0.48 LKR 158

93.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 160

$0.48 LKR 158

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.43 LKR 3,447

$13.12 LKR 4,339

-20.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.76 LKR 4,550

$12.76 LKR 4,219

7.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 LKR 630

$2.04 LKR 676

-6.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 LKR 937

$2.93 LKR 968

-3.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 LKR 117

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 137

$0.38 LKR 127

7.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 LKR 126

$0.47 LKR 156

-19.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 LKR 305

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 LKR 423

$0.97 LKR 321

31.96%

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

$31.1K LKR 10.3M

$19.9K LKR 6.6M

55.77%

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

$41.9K LKR 13.9M

$19.8K LKR 6.6M

111.54%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$54.5 LKR 18.0K

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

$4.09 LKR 1,351

$2.13 LKR 704

92.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.14 LKR 6,990

$7.40 LKR 2,448

185.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.04 LKR 2,988

Cinema Ticket

$4.55 LKR 1,505

$2.39 LKR 791

90.38%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$38.55 LKR 12.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,217 LKR 402.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.29 LKR 6,710

$10.50 LKR 3,472

93.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.85 LKR 5,570

$7.79 LKR 2,577

116.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 LKR 26.5K

$84.8 LKR 28.0K

-5.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.76 LKR 13.8K

$25.60 LKR 8,463

63.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.8 LKR 25.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$53.8 LKR 17.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.0 LKR 28.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 LKR 55.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

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

Last update for Polonnaruwa: September 14, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Polonnaruwa versus $9.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Polonnaruwa vs $261 in Ratnapura – so Polonnaruwa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Polonnaruwa vs Ratnapura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Polonnaruwa costs about 3% more than Ratnapura, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $750 per month in Polonnaruwa and $726 in Ratnapura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $500 in Polonnaruwa and $484 in Ratnapura. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Polonnaruwa – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $500 in Polonnaruwa and $484 in Ratnapura, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Ratnapura – 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 Ratnapura. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Polonnaruwa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.