Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Bentota Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Bentota

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $520 in Ratnapura versus $659 in Bentota.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $847 in Ratnapura versus $866 in Bentota.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,173 in Ratnapura versus $1,072 in Bentota.

Living in Ratnapura costs roughly 21% less than in Bentota, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ratnapura 61% lower, Bentota 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.21 LKR 733

$4.03 LKR 1,336

-45.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.89 LKR 3,280

$13.50 LKR 4,476

-26.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.73 LKR 2,230

$8.43 LKR 2,797

-20.17%

Cappuccino

$2.39 LKR 791

$2.76 LKR 914

-13.41%

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

$0.82 LKR 272

$0.74 LKR 245

10.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 172

$0.40 LKR 133

30.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 LKR 729

$2.35 LKR 780

-6.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 985

$3.30 LKR 1,093

-10.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 LKR 652

$1.76 LKR 584

11.93%

White Bread (500g)

$0.86 LKR 284

$0.56 LKR 184

53.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 LKR 240

$0.87 LKR 288

-17.24%

Eggs

$1.17 LKR 390

$2.22 LKR 738

-47.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.64 LKR 5,518

$14.13 LKR 4,686

17.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.84 LKR 2,267

$3.63 LKR 1,203

88.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.39 LKR 5,765

$5.07 LKR 1,680

243.00%

Apples (1kg)

$4.71 LKR 1,562

$7.51 LKR 2,489

-37.28%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 271

$0.88 LKR 291

-6.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 LKR 1,548

$5.76 LKR 1,909

-18.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 LKR 362

$0.99 LKR 327

10.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 385

$1.14 LKR 379

1.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 LKR 498

$1.40 LKR 466

7.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 LKR 185

$1.15 LKR 382

-51.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 172

$0.55 LKR 184

-5.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.71 LKR 4,876

$10.08 LKR 3,343

45.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.45 LKR 4,129

$13.01 LKR 4,315

-4.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 LKR 738

$2.09 LKR 693

6.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 LKR 1,034

$2.86 LKR 947

9.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 LKR 137

$0.18 LKR 60.0

127.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 129

$0.41 LKR 136

-4.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 LKR 176

$0.36 LKR 118

47.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.34 LKR 113

$0.61 LKR 201

-44.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 LKR 353

$1.19 LKR 396

-10.08%

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

$22.1K LKR 7.3M

$26.4K LKR 8.7M

-16.28%

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

$21.3K LKR 7.1M

$34.2K LKR 11.3M

-37.70%

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

$60.8 LKR 20.1K

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

$2.33 LKR 773

$2.44 LKR 809

-4.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.13 LKR 2,697

$10.19 LKR 3,378

-20.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.18 LKR 3,377

Cinema Ticket

$2.66 LKR 884

$3.25 LKR 1,078

-18.15%

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

$36.43 LKR 12.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$438 LKR 145.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.76 LKR 3,901

$27.79 LKR 9,214

-57.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.56 LKR 2,838

$19.68 LKR 6,525

-56.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.5 LKR 31.0K

$68.4 LKR 22.7K

36.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.55 LKR 9,466

$38.13 LKR 12.6K

-25.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$85.0 LKR 28.2K

$243 LKR 80.5K

-65.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.4 LKR 19.7K

$153 LKR 50.6K

-61.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.3 LKR 30.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 LKR 57.0K

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 Bentota: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $85.0 in Ratnapura and $243 in Bentota. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $10.00 in Ratnapura vs $13.00 in Bentota. Groceries flip the comparison at $282 vs $242, with Bentota 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 Bentota: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ratnapura is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $780 in Ratnapura and $988 in Bentota to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $85.0 in Ratnapura versus $243 in Bentota. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Bentota pay roughly 17% 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 $13.00 in Bentota. 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 Bentota 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 27% less than in Bentota. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.