Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Amparai Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Amparai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $520 in Ratnapura versus $529 in Amparai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $847 in Ratnapura versus $856 in Amparai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,173 in Ratnapura versus $1,183 in Amparai.

Living in Ratnapura costs roughly 2% less than in Amparai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.21 LKR 733

$4.05 LKR 1,344

-45.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.89 LKR 3,280

$24.62 LKR 8,164

-59.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.73 LKR 2,230

$8.14 LKR 2,698

-17.32%

Cappuccino

$2.39 LKR 791

$2.66 LKR 881

-10.15%

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

$0.82 LKR 272

$0.69 LKR 229

18.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 172

$0.37 LKR 124

40.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 LKR 729

$2.31 LKR 765

-4.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 985

$3.43 LKR 1,136

-13.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 LKR 652

$1.73 LKR 573

13.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.86 LKR 284

$0.51 LKR 171

68.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 LKR 240

$0.88 LKR 290

-18.18%

Eggs

$1.17 LKR 390

$2.21 LKR 733

-47.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.64 LKR 5,518

$14.24 LKR 4,721

16.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.84 LKR 2,267

$4.62 LKR 1,531

48.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.39 LKR 5,765

$8.15 LKR 2,703

113.37%

Apples (1kg)

$4.71 LKR 1,562

$7.46 LKR 2,474

-36.86%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 271

$1.10 LKR 365

-25.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 LKR 1,548

$5.76 LKR 1,910

-18.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 LKR 362

$1.25 LKR 413

-12.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 385

$1.15 LKR 382

0.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 LKR 498

$1.38 LKR 457

8.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 LKR 185

$1.14 LKR 379

-50.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 172

$0.60 LKR 198

-13.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.71 LKR 4,876

$10.15 LKR 3,367

44.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.45 LKR 4,129

$12.71 LKR 4,214

-2.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 LKR 738

$1.99 LKR 660

11.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 LKR 1,034

$2.87 LKR 952

8.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 LKR 137

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 129

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 LKR 176

$0.35 LKR 117

51.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.34 LKR 113

$0.57 LKR 189

-40.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 LKR 353

$1.21 LKR 403

-11.57%

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

$22.1K LKR 7.3M

$27.0K LKR 9.0M

-18.26%

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

$21.3K LKR 7.1M

$34.7K LKR 11.5M

-38.55%

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

$59.3 LKR 19.7K

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

$2.33 LKR 773

$4.27 LKR 1,417

-45.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.13 LKR 2,697

$15.32 LKR 5,078

-46.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.18 LKR 3,377

Cinema Ticket

$2.66 LKR 884

$1.97 LKR 655

35.03%

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

$36.57 LKR 12.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$443 LKR 146.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.76 LKR 3,901

$27.17 LKR 9,007

-56.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.56 LKR 2,838

$19.37 LKR 6,422

-55.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.5 LKR 31.0K

$70.4 LKR 23.3K

32.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.55 LKR 9,466

$39.41 LKR 13.1K

-27.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$85.0 LKR 28.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.4 LKR 19.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.3 LKR 30.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 LKR 57.0K

$88.9 LKR 29.5K

93.48%

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 Ratnapura: May 31, 2026

Last update for Amparai: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ratnapura pays 93% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $10.00 in Ratnapura vs $25.00 in Amparai. Groceries flip the comparison at $282 vs $257, with Amparai 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

Ratnapura vs Amparai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ratnapura is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Ratnapura pays 93% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Amparai pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

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

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, Ratnapura and Amparai 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 2% less than in Amparai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.