Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Badulla Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Badulla

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $475 in Ratnapura versus $548 in Badulla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $767 in Ratnapura versus $876 in Badulla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,059 in Ratnapura versus $1,204 in Badulla.

Living in Ratnapura costs roughly 13% less than in Badulla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ratnapura 65% lower, Badulla 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.02 LKR 662

$4.37 LKR 1,435

-53.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.93 LKR 2,930

$26.22 LKR 8,602

-65.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.99 LKR 1,965

$7.56 LKR 2,481

-20.77%

Cappuccino

$2.08 LKR 683

$2.45 LKR 803

-15.10%

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

$0.75 LKR 246

$0.69 LKR 226

8.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 LKR 144

$0.27 LKR 88.7

62.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 LKR 632

$2.18 LKR 716

-11.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 LKR 877

$2.98 LKR 977

-10.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 LKR 614

$1.57 LKR 516

19.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 LKR 245

$0.57 LKR 187

31.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.65 LKR 214

$0.62 LKR 205

4.84%

Eggs

$1.08 LKR 353

$1.60 LKR 524

-32.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.76 LKR 4,842

$13.35 LKR 4,381

10.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 LKR 2,082

$3.68 LKR 1,209

72.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.97 LKR 5,239

$7.08 LKR 2,322

125.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.23 LKR 1,389

$6.70 LKR 2,197

-36.87%

Banana (1kg)

$0.74 LKR 244

$0.82 LKR 270

-9.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 LKR 1,368

$4.16 LKR 1,363

0.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.95 LKR 312

$1.27 LKR 418

-25.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 LKR 334

$1.05 LKR 345

-2.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 465

$0.79 LKR 259

79.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 LKR 166

$0.96 LKR 314

-46.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 156

$0.46 LKR 150

4.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.94 LKR 4,244

$10.42 LKR 3,419

24.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.84 LKR 4,213

$13.53 LKR 4,440

-5.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 LKR 695

$1.98 LKR 650

7.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 LKR 955

$2.78 LKR 911

4.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 LKR 123

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.37 LKR 122

$0.41 LKR 136

-9.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 LKR 157

$0.38 LKR 125

26.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 LKR 293

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 LKR 300

$1.29 LKR 425

-29.46%

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

$19.6K LKR 6.4M

$30.5K LKR 10.0M

-35.66%

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

$20.0K LKR 6.6M

$42.8K LKR 14.0M

-53.18%

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

$55.4 LKR 18.2K

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

$2.08 LKR 681

$4.06 LKR 1,331

-48.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.50 LKR 2,460

$21.17 LKR 6,946

-64.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.26 LKR 3,037

Cinema Ticket

$2.44 LKR 802

$4.38 LKR 1,436

-44.29%

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

$38.42 LKR 12.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,242 LKR 407.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.55 LKR 3,461

$20.33 LKR 6,670

-48.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.50 LKR 2,460

$17.08 LKR 5,602

-56.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.4 LKR 27.7K

$79.4 LKR 26.0K

6.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.38 LKR 8,326

$42.12 LKR 13.8K

-39.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.7 LKR 25.2K

$75.1 LKR 24.7K

2.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$54.7 LKR 17.9K

$46.61 LKR 15.3K

17.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$84.6 LKR 27.7K

$90.5 LKR 29.7K

-6.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,608 LKR 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$767 LKR 251.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 LKR 55.8K

$233 LKR 76.3K

-26.86%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Badulla: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $76.7 in Ratnapura and $75.1 in Badulla. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Badulla pays 37% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $9.00 in Ratnapura vs $26.00 in Badulla. Groceries flip the comparison at $260 vs $228, with Badulla 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 Badulla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ratnapura is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 37% lower in Badulla. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $76.7 in Ratnapura versus $75.1 in Badulla. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Badulla pay roughly 14% 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 Badulla. 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 Badulla 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 15% less than in Badulla. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.