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: $481 in Ratnapura versus $510 in Amparai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $765 in Ratnapura versus $824 in Amparai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,050 in Ratnapura versus $1,138 in Amparai.

Living in Ratnapura costs roughly 6% less than in Amparai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.00 LKR 656

$4.35 LKR 1,428

-54.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.18 LKR 3,016

$26.40 LKR 8,675

-65.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.13 LKR 2,013

$7.77 LKR 2,554

-21.11%

Cappuccino

$2.08 LKR 683

$2.45 LKR 806

-15.10%

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

$0.79 LKR 259

$0.72 LKR 238

9.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 157

$0.25 LKR 81.6

92.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 LKR 655

$2.24 LKR 736

-11.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 LKR 908

$2.96 LKR 974

-6.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 LKR 594

$1.63 LKR 536

11.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 LKR 260

$0.54 LKR 177

46.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.66 LKR 218

$0.80 LKR 262

-17.50%

Eggs

$1.12 LKR 368

$1.62 LKR 531

-30.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.15 LKR 4,980

$13.47 LKR 4,426

12.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.51 LKR 2,139

$4.95 LKR 1,626

31.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.90 LKR 5,226

$7.06 LKR 2,321

125.21%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 LKR 1,420

$7.00 LKR 2,300

-38.29%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 251

$0.89 LKR 294

-14.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 LKR 1,432

$4.27 LKR 1,403

2.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 LKR 334

$1.28 LKR 420

-20.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 LKR 338

$1.01 LKR 333

1.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 LKR 451

$0.80 LKR 264

71.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 LKR 156

$0.91 LKR 299

-47.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 LKR 147

$0.49 LKR 159

-8.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.10 LKR 4,303

$10.18 LKR 3,346

28.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.62 LKR 4,148

$13.89 LKR 4,566

-9.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 LKR 692

$1.92 LKR 631

9.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 LKR 933

$2.86 LKR 940

-0.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 LKR 116

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.36 LKR 117

$0.38 LKR 125

-5.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 LKR 144

$0.36 LKR 118

22.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 LKR 287

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 LKR 326

$1.35 LKR 443

-26.67%

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

$19.6K LKR 6.5M

$30.1K LKR 9.9M

-34.68%

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

$19.7K LKR 6.5M

$42.5K LKR 14.0M

-53.56%

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

$55.9 LKR 18.4K

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

$2.01 LKR 662

$4.13 LKR 1,357

-51.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.49 LKR 2,462

$20.82 LKR 6,842

-64.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.02 LKR 2,964

Cinema Ticket

$2.40 LKR 787

$1.80 LKR 593

33.33%

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

$38.47 LKR 12.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,205 LKR 396.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.79 LKR 3,545

$20.09 LKR 6,602

-46.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.76 LKR 2,550

$16.50 LKR 5,422

-52.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 LKR 28.2K

$79.5 LKR 26.1K

7.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.03 LKR 8,553

$41.96 LKR 13.8K

-37.96%

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

$92.0 LKR 30.2K

85.07%

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 Ratnapura: September 5, 2026

Last update for Amparai: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ratnapura pays 85% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $9.00 in Ratnapura vs $26.00 in Amparai. Groceries flip the comparison at $262 vs $239, 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 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 85% higher in Ratnapura, 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 $9.00 versus $26.00 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 6% less than in Amparai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.