Cost of Living Comparison Between Ragama and Ratnapura Cost of Living Comparison Between Ragama and Ratnapura

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $526 in Ragama versus $524 in Ratnapura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $851 in Ragama versus $845 in Ratnapura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,177 in Ragama versus $1,166 in Ratnapura.

Monthly costs are close between Ragama and Ratnapura; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ragama 61% lower, Ratnapura 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.92 LKR 1,240

$2.22 LKR 704

76.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.21 LKR 7,978

$10.13 LKR 3,208

148.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.54 LKR 2,703

$6.73 LKR 2,132

26.89%

Cappuccino

$2.73 LKR 865

$2.36 LKR 746

15.68%

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

$0.74 LKR 233

$0.86 LKR 271

-13.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 127

$0.52 LKR 166

-23.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 734

$2.16 LKR 685

7.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 LKR 1,032

$3.07 LKR 972

6.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 LKR 501

$2.06 LKR 652

-23.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 168

$0.81 LKR 256

-34.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.75 LKR 238

$0.67 LKR 211

11.94%

Eggs

$2.19 LKR 694

$1.24 LKR 393

76.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.03 LKR 4,441

$16.48 LKR 5,217

-14.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.64 LKR 1,468

$6.96 LKR 2,204

-33.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.93 LKR 2,509

$17.55 LKR 5,554

-54.81%

Apples (1kg)

$7.69 LKR 2,433

$4.81 LKR 1,521

59.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 340

$0.83 LKR 264

28.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.69 LKR 1,801

$4.74 LKR 1,502

20.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 399

$1.05 LKR 331

20.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 351

$1.17 LKR 370

-5.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 LKR 375

$1.56 LKR 493

-24.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 LKR 367

$0.56 LKR 178

107.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 LKR 192

$0.48 LKR 152

27.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.10 LKR 3,198

$14.48 LKR 4,584

-30.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.87 LKR 4,073

$13.40 LKR 4,241

-3.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 LKR 632

$2.31 LKR 732

-13.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 LKR 936

$3.09 LKR 977

-4.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 LKR 123

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 123

$0.41 LKR 130

-4.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 111

$0.48 LKR 153

-27.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 LKR 178

$0.32 LKR 100

75.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 400

$1.03 LKR 326

22.33%

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

$27.3K LKR 8.6M

$22.0K LKR 7.0M

23.83%

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

$34.7K LKR 11.0M

$21.4K LKR 6.8M

62.23%

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

$59.0 LKR 18.7K

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

$4.43 LKR 1,404

$2.20 LKR 697

101.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.40 LKR 4,875

$7.85 LKR 2,484

96.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.07 LKR 3,188

Cinema Ticket

$3.45 LKR 1,091

$2.60 LKR 824

32.69%

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

$37.37 LKR 11.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$440 LKR 139.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.22 LKR 8,616

$11.70 LKR 3,703

132.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.32 LKR 6,116

$8.17 LKR 2,585

136.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.2 LKR 22.2K

$93.5 LKR 29.6K

-24.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.05 LKR 12.4K

$28.36 LKR 8,975

37.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$84.4 LKR 26.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$61.4 LKR 19.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.4 LKR 29.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 LKR 55.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

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

Last update for Ragama: April 20, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $0 in Ragama and $84 in Ratnapura. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25 in Ragama vs $10 in Ratnapura. Groceries flip the comparison at $255 vs $286, with Ragama cheaper for home cooking.

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

Ragama vs Ratnapura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

You'd need roughly $789 in Ragama and $787 in Ratnapura to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Dining out is cheaper in Ratnapura – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $25.00 in Ragama. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Shoppers in Ragama pay roughly 12% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Ratnapura gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Ragama and Ratnapura are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Ratnapura wins on affordability, Ragama on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.