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: $515 in Ragama versus $481 in Ratnapura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $835 in Ragama versus $765 in Ratnapura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,154 in Ragama versus $1,050 in Ratnapura.

Living in Ragama is roughly 7% more expensive than in Ratnapura, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ragama 63% lower, Ratnapura 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 LKR 1,448

$2.00 LKR 656

120.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.20 LKR 8,610

$9.18 LKR 3,016

185.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.64 LKR 2,509

$6.13 LKR 2,013

24.63%

Cappuccino

$2.54 LKR 834

$2.08 LKR 683

22.12%

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

$0.69 LKR 226

$0.79 LKR 259

-12.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 LKR 88.7

$0.48 LKR 157

-43.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 LKR 740

$1.99 LKR 655

13.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 LKR 1,026

$2.76 LKR 908

13.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 LKR 468

$1.81 LKR 594

-20.99%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 LKR 166

$0.79 LKR 260

-35.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.69 LKR 226

$0.66 LKR 218

4.55%

Eggs

$1.66 LKR 546

$1.12 LKR 368

48.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.16 LKR 4,324

$15.15 LKR 4,980

-13.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.94 LKR 1,622

$6.51 LKR 2,139

-24.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.23 LKR 2,376

$15.90 LKR 5,226

-54.53%

Apples (1kg)

$6.71 LKR 2,206

$4.32 LKR 1,420

55.32%

Banana (1kg)

$0.89 LKR 294

$0.76 LKR 251

17.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 LKR 1,420

$4.36 LKR 1,432

-0.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 408

$1.02 LKR 334

21.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 LKR 343

$1.03 LKR 338

0.97%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 262

$1.37 LKR 451

-41.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 LKR 290

$0.48 LKR 156

83.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 LKR 151

$0.45 LKR 147

2.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.46 LKR 3,435

$13.10 LKR 4,303

-20.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.56 LKR 4,457

$12.62 LKR 4,148

7.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 LKR 656

$2.11 LKR 692

-5.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 LKR 909

$2.84 LKR 933

-2.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 LKR 116

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 128

$0.36 LKR 117

8.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 LKR 127

$0.44 LKR 144

-11.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 LKR 303

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 LKR 443

$0.99 LKR 326

36.36%

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

$30.0K LKR 9.8M

$19.6K LKR 6.5M

52.57%

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

$41.7K LKR 13.7M

$19.7K LKR 6.5M

110.96%

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

$54.4 LKR 17.9K

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

$4.16 LKR 1,366

$2.01 LKR 662

106.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.62 LKR 6,776

$7.49 LKR 2,462

175.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.02 LKR 2,964

Cinema Ticket

$4.49 LKR 1,477

$2.40 LKR 787

87.08%

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

$38.72 LKR 12.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,242 LKR 408.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.02 LKR 6,577

$10.79 LKR 3,545

85.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.51 LKR 5,424

$7.76 LKR 2,550

112.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.6 LKR 26.1K

$85.8 LKR 28.2K

-7.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.71 LKR 13.7K

$26.03 LKR 8,553

60.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.6 LKR 25.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$54.0 LKR 17.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$86.2 LKR 28.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 LKR 55.9K

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 Ragama: September 7, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $26.00 in Ragama vs $9.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries flip the comparison at $233 vs $262, 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 7% in total monthly costs ($515 vs $481 including rent). Ratnapura is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $773 in Ragama and $721 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 $9.00 versus $26.00 in Ragama. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $515 per month in Ragama versus $481 in Ratnapura – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

Expats usually find Ratnapura gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Ragama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.