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: $519 in Ragama versus $534 in Ratnapura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $861 in Ragama versus $858 in Ratnapura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,203 in Ragama versus $1,183 in Ratnapura.

Living in Ragama costs roughly 3% less than in Ratnapura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ragama 61% lower, Ratnapura 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.07 LKR 1,363

$2.19 LKR 734

85.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.91 LKR 8,346

$10.13 LKR 3,393

145.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.51 LKR 2,850

$6.81 LKR 2,283

24.96%

Cappuccino

$2.63 LKR 880

$2.37 LKR 795

10.97%

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

$0.73 LKR 245

$0.87 LKR 291

-16.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 126

$0.49 LKR 163

-22.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 777

$2.12 LKR 712

9.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 LKR 1,112

$2.94 LKR 986

12.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 LKR 528

$1.97 LKR 661

-19.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 189

$0.81 LKR 271

-30.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.73 LKR 243

$0.72 LKR 241

1.39%

Eggs

$2.11 LKR 706

$1.24 LKR 416

70.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.22 LKR 4,765

$16.47 LKR 5,519

-13.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.54 LKR 1,523

$6.97 LKR 2,335

-34.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.20 LKR 2,747

$17.18 LKR 5,757

-52.27%

Apples (1kg)

$7.41 LKR 2,482

$4.66 LKR 1,561

59.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 376

$0.77 LKR 259

45.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.81 LKR 1,948

$4.78 LKR 1,601

21.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 416

$1.06 LKR 354

16.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 388

$1.12 LKR 377

3.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 416

$1.50 LKR 501

-17.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 LKR 386

$0.52 LKR 174

121.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 LKR 186

$0.52 LKR 174

5.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.07 LKR 3,373

$14.29 LKR 4,787

-29.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.44 LKR 4,167

$12.44 LKR 4,169

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 LKR 705

$2.30 LKR 772

-8.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 LKR 999

$3.21 LKR 1,076

-7.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 LKR 138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 129

$0.41 LKR 139

-7.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 118

$0.53 LKR 177

-33.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 191

$0.35 LKR 116

62.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 423

$1.08 LKR 360

16.67%

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

$26.3K LKR 8.8M

$21.8K LKR 7.3M

20.39%

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

$34.2K LKR 11.4M

$21.3K LKR 7.1M

60.26%

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

$59.4 LKR 19.9K

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

$4.29 LKR 1,437

$2.26 LKR 756

89.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.96 LKR 5,013

$7.88 LKR 2,641

89.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.10 LKR 3,384

Cinema Ticket

$3.36 LKR 1,127

$2.71 LKR 909

23.99%

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

$37.47 LKR 12.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$445 LKR 149.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.07 LKR 9,070

$11.60 LKR 3,887

133.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.30 LKR 6,467

$8.24 LKR 2,762

134.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.5 LKR 23.3K

$94.1 LKR 31.5K

-26.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.20 LKR 13.1K

$28.63 LKR 9,592

36.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$82.1 LKR 27.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.3 LKR 19.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.4 LKR 31.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 LKR 56.9K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Ragama vs $10.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries flip the comparison at $255 vs $281, 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

Ragama and Ratnapura differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($519 vs $534 including rent). Ragama is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $779 in Ragama and $801 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 Ragama – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $10.00 in Ratnapura. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $519 per month in Ragama versus $534 in Ratnapura – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Ragama 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.

Expats usually find Ragama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Ratnapura. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.