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: $520 in Ratnapura versus $525 in Badulla.

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

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,173 in Ratnapura versus $1,169 in Badulla.

Living in Ratnapura costs roughly 1% less than in Badulla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.21 LKR 737

$4.06 LKR 1,353

-45.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.89 LKR 3,299

$24.83 LKR 8,280

-60.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.73 LKR 2,243

$8.27 LKR 2,757

-18.62%

Cappuccino

$2.39 LKR 796

$2.74 LKR 913

-12.77%

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

$0.82 LKR 274

$0.69 LKR 229

18.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 173

$0.41 LKR 135

26.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 LKR 733

$2.28 LKR 761

-3.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 991

$3.31 LKR 1,103

-10.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 LKR 656

$1.68 LKR 562

17.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.86 LKR 286

$0.52 LKR 174

65.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 LKR 241

$0.71 LKR 238

1.41%

Eggs

$1.17 LKR 392

$2.11 LKR 705

-44.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.64 LKR 5,550

$14.30 LKR 4,769

16.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.84 LKR 2,281

$3.94 LKR 1,313

73.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.39 LKR 5,798

$8.20 LKR 2,734

112.07%

Apples (1kg)

$4.71 LKR 1,571

$7.67 LKR 2,557

-38.59%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 273

$1.07 LKR 358

-23.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 LKR 1,557

$5.81 LKR 1,937

-19.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 LKR 364

$1.19 LKR 399

-8.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 387

$1.15 LKR 384

0.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 LKR 501

$1.40 LKR 467

7.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 LKR 186

$1.20 LKR 402

-53.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 173

$0.61 LKR 202

-14.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.71 LKR 4,904

$9.90 LKR 3,301

48.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.45 LKR 4,153

$13.04 LKR 4,350

-4.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 LKR 742

$2.09 LKR 698

6.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 LKR 1,040

$2.95 LKR 984

5.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 LKR 138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 130

$0.38 LKR 127

2.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 LKR 177

$0.35 LKR 118

51.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.34 LKR 114

$0.56 LKR 188

-39.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 LKR 356

$1.25 LKR 415

-14.40%

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

$22.1K LKR 7.4M

$26.7K LKR 8.9M

-17.34%

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

$21.3K LKR 7.1M

$34.4K LKR 11.5M

-38.18%

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

$59.5 LKR 19.8K

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

$2.33 LKR 778

$4.32 LKR 1,440

-46.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.13 LKR 2,712

$15.03 LKR 5,014

-45.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.18 LKR 3,396

Cinema Ticket

$2.66 LKR 889

$3.29 LKR 1,098

-19.15%

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

$36.17 LKR 12.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$441 LKR 147.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.76 LKR 3,923

$27.11 LKR 9,041

-56.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.56 LKR 2,855

$19.48 LKR 6,496

-56.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.5 LKR 31.2K

$68.3 LKR 22.8K

36.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.55 LKR 9,521

$38.27 LKR 12.8K

-25.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$85.0 LKR 28.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.4 LKR 19.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.3 LKR 30.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,547 LKR 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$760 LKR 253.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 LKR 57.3K

$228 LKR 76.0K

-24.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ratnapura: May 31, 2026

Last update for Badulla: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Badulla pays 32% 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: $10.00 in Ratnapura vs $25.00 in Badulla. Groceries flip the comparison at $282 vs $255, 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 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Badulla earns 32% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Shoppers in Badulla 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 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 1% less than in Badulla. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.