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: $517 in Ratnapura versus $521 in Badulla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $833 in Ratnapura versus $848 in Badulla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,149 in Ratnapura versus $1,174 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

$2.23 LKR 748

$3.97 LKR 1,335

-43.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.02 LKR 3,367

$25.09 LKR 8,433

-60.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.80 LKR 2,285

$8.56 LKR 2,878

-20.56%

Cappuccino

$2.35 LKR 791

$2.71 LKR 911

-13.28%

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

$0.82 LKR 274

$0.68 LKR 229

20.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 174

$0.37 LKR 126

40.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 LKR 749

$2.30 LKR 771

-3.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 LKR 1,039

$3.43 LKR 1,153

-9.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 LKR 686

$1.60 LKR 539

27.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 LKR 271

$0.56 LKR 189

44.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.67 LKR 226

$0.69 LKR 232

-2.90%

Eggs

$1.19 LKR 401

$2.12 LKR 712

-43.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.66 LKR 5,599

$14.04 LKR 4,717

18.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.14 LKR 2,401

$3.95 LKR 1,327

80.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.18 LKR 5,774

$7.85 LKR 2,637

118.85%

Apples (1kg)

$4.66 LKR 1,564

$7.41 LKR 2,489

-37.11%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 276

$1.08 LKR 361

-24.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.65 LKR 1,564

$5.93 LKR 1,994

-21.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 LKR 363

$1.21 LKR 405

-10.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 LKR 392

$1.16 LKR 390

0.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 LKR 525

$1.42 LKR 477

9.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 LKR 189

$1.19 LKR 399

-52.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 162

$0.60 LKR 200

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.66 LKR 4,927

$10.14 LKR 3,409

44.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.44 LKR 4,181

$12.66 LKR 4,253

-1.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 LKR 779

$1.99 LKR 670

16.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 LKR 1,053

$2.98 LKR 1,000

5.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 LKR 141

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 129

$0.39 LKR 130

-2.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 LKR 178

$0.33 LKR 110

60.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.32 LKR 106

$0.58 LKR 195

-44.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 LKR 357

$1.21 LKR 407

-12.40%

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

$21.7K LKR 7.3M

$26.8K LKR 9.0M

-19.26%

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

$21.4K LKR 7.2M

$34.6K LKR 11.6M

-38.22%

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

$60.5 LKR 20.3K

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

$2.25 LKR 755

$4.43 LKR 1,487

-49.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.23 LKR 2,767

$15.09 LKR 5,070

-45.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.99 LKR 3,356

Cinema Ticket

$2.61 LKR 876

$3.26 LKR 1,097

-19.94%

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

$36.66 LKR 12.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$446 LKR 149.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.53 LKR 3,874

$27.48 LKR 9,236

-58.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.41 LKR 2,825

$19.67 LKR 6,608

-57.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.5 LKR 32.1K

$68.6 LKR 23.0K

39.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.66 LKR 9,630

$38.59 LKR 13.0K

-25.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$82.8 LKR 27.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$61.4 LKR 20.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.9 LKR 31.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,419 LKR 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$739 LKR 248.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 LKR 55.5K

$225 LKR 75.5K

-26.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Ratnapura: July 14, 2026

Last update for Badulla: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Badulla pays 36% 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 $283 vs $251, 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, salaries run 36% 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.

Shoppers in Badulla pay roughly 13% 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.