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: $481 in Ratnapura versus $787 in Bentota.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $765 in Ratnapura versus $900 in Bentota.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,050 in Ratnapura versus $1,014 in Bentota.

Living in Ratnapura costs roughly 39% less than in Bentota, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ratnapura 65% lower, Bentota 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.00 LKR 656

$4.52 LKR 1,487

-55.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.18 LKR 3,016

$12.32 LKR 4,049

-25.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.13 LKR 2,013

$7.83 LKR 2,572

-21.71%

Cappuccino

$2.08 LKR 683

$2.50 LKR 823

-16.80%

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

$0.79 LKR 259

$0.69 LKR 227

14.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 157

$0.27 LKR 89.4

77.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 LKR 655

$2.27 LKR 745

-12.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 LKR 908

$3.08 LKR 1,013

-10.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 LKR 594

$1.64 LKR 540

10.37%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 LKR 260

$0.52 LKR 172

51.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.66 LKR 218

$0.75 LKR 246

-12.00%

Eggs

$1.12 LKR 368

$1.65 LKR 541

-32.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.15 LKR 4,980

$13.40 LKR 4,402

13.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.51 LKR 2,139

$3.30 LKR 1,083

97.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.90 LKR 5,226

$4.49 LKR 1,477

254.12%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 LKR 1,420

$6.70 LKR 2,202

-35.52%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 251

$0.77 LKR 253

-1.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 LKR 1,432

$4.35 LKR 1,430

0.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 LKR 334

$0.95 LKR 311

7.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 LKR 338

$1.04 LKR 342

-0.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 LKR 451

$0.75 LKR 246

82.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 LKR 156

$0.94 LKR 309

-48.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 LKR 147

$0.46 LKR 150

-2.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.10 LKR 4,303

$10.27 LKR 3,373

27.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.62 LKR 4,148

$13.54 LKR 4,448

-6.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 LKR 692

$1.98 LKR 650

6.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 LKR 933

$2.88 LKR 946

-1.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 LKR 116

$0.19 LKR 63.1

84.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.36 LKR 117

$0.38 LKR 126

-5.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 LKR 144

$0.29 LKR 94.1

51.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 LKR 304

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 LKR 326

$1.28 LKR 420

-22.66%

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

$19.6K LKR 6.5M

$30.9K LKR 10.1M

-36.41%

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

$19.7K LKR 6.5M

$42.8K LKR 14.0M

-53.81%

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

$55.7 LKR 18.3K

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

$2.01 LKR 662

$2.32 LKR 764

-13.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.49 LKR 2,462

$9.22 LKR 3,029

-18.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.02 LKR 2,964

Cinema Ticket

$2.40 LKR 787

$4.35 LKR 1,428

-44.83%

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

$37.48 LKR 12.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,214 LKR 398.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.79 LKR 3,545

$20.27 LKR 6,660

-46.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.76 LKR 2,550

$16.62 LKR 5,460

-53.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 LKR 28.2K

$79.8 LKR 26.2K

7.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.03 LKR 8,553

$42.81 LKR 14.1K

-39.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.6 LKR 25.2K

$541 LKR 177.7K

-85.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$54.0 LKR 17.7K

$303 LKR 99.6K

-82.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$86.2 LKR 28.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 LKR 55.9K

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 Bentota: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $76.6 in Ratnapura and $541 in Bentota. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $9.00 in Ratnapura vs $12.00 in Bentota. Groceries flip the comparison at $262 vs $218, 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 64% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $721 in Ratnapura and $1,181 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: $76.6 in Ratnapura versus $541 in Bentota. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Bentota pay roughly 20% 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 $12.00 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 64% less than in Bentota. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.