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: $534 in Ragama versus $531 in Ratnapura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $867 in Ragama versus $838 in Ratnapura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,201 in Ragama versus $1,145 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 60% lower, Ratnapura 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.06 LKR 1,364

$2.21 LKR 742

83.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.46 LKR 8,556

$10.19 LKR 3,423

149.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.28 LKR 2,782

$6.55 LKR 2,200

26.41%

Cappuccino

$2.76 LKR 926

$2.40 LKR 806

15.00%

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

$0.73 LKR 247

$0.80 LKR 269

-8.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 128

$0.52 LKR 174

-26.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.38 LKR 800

$2.12 LKR 711

12.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 LKR 1,157

$3.02 LKR 1,015

13.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 LKR 549

$1.98 LKR 666

-17.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 177

$0.83 LKR 279

-36.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.75 LKR 253

$0.72 LKR 240

4.17%

Eggs

$2.13 LKR 715

$1.19 LKR 401

78.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.01 LKR 4,706

$16.56 LKR 5,563

-15.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.60 LKR 1,545

$7.21 LKR 2,422

-36.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.90 LKR 2,654

$17.39 LKR 5,842

-54.57%

Apples (1kg)

$7.43 LKR 2,496

$4.59 LKR 1,543

61.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 LKR 371

$0.78 LKR 261

41.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.62 LKR 1,889

$4.74 LKR 1,594

18.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 419

$1.08 LKR 364

15.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 391

$1.17 LKR 392

-0.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 LKR 399

$1.58 LKR 531

-24.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 403

$0.53 LKR 177

126.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 201

$0.48 LKR 160

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.10 LKR 3,393

$14.80 LKR 4,972

-31.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.58 LKR 4,228

$12.63 LKR 4,244

-0.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 LKR 680

$2.31 LKR 777

-12.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 LKR 989

$3.20 LKR 1,075

-8.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 LKR 138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 138

$0.41 LKR 139

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 LKR 109

$0.52 LKR 176

-38.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 LKR 189

$0.34 LKR 115

64.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 406

$1.07 LKR 359

13.08%

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

$26.6K LKR 8.9M

$21.9K LKR 7.4M

21.23%

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

$34.9K LKR 11.7M

$21.6K LKR 7.3M

61.56%

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

$60.7 LKR 20.4K

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

$4.27 LKR 1,434

$2.26 LKR 759

88.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.07 LKR 5,063

$7.81 LKR 2,624

92.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.22 LKR 3,435

Cinema Ticket

$3.38 LKR 1,135

$2.60 LKR 875

30.00%

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

$36.60 LKR 12.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$444 LKR 149.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.18 LKR 9,132

$11.64 LKR 3,911

133.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.47 LKR 6,541

$8.47 LKR 2,844

129.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.4 LKR 23.3K

$94.7 LKR 31.8K

-26.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.05 LKR 12.8K

$28.23 LKR 9,485

34.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$82.6 LKR 27.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.9 LKR 20.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.1 LKR 31.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 LKR 55.4K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Ragama vs $10.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries flip the comparison at $253 vs $283, 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 $800 in Ragama and $797 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.