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: $517 in Ratnapura versus $649 in Bentota.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $833 in Ratnapura versus $859 in Bentota.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,149 in Ratnapura versus $1,069 in Bentota.

Living in Ratnapura costs roughly 20% 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

$2.23 LKR 748

$4.13 LKR 1,388

-46.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.02 LKR 3,367

$13.23 LKR 4,446

-24.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.80 LKR 2,284

$8.42 LKR 2,829

-19.24%

Cappuccino

$2.35 LKR 791

$2.60 LKR 875

-9.62%

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

$0.82 LKR 274

$0.74 LKR 249

10.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 174

$0.38 LKR 127

36.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 LKR 749

$2.30 LKR 772

-3.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 LKR 1,038

$3.41 LKR 1,147

-9.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 LKR 686

$1.70 LKR 570

20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 LKR 271

$0.56 LKR 188

44.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.67 LKR 226

$0.80 LKR 269

-16.25%

Eggs

$1.19 LKR 401

$2.12 LKR 713

-43.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.66 LKR 5,598

$14.10 LKR 4,738

18.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.14 LKR 2,400

$3.72 LKR 1,251

91.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.18 LKR 5,773

$4.97 LKR 1,670

245.67%

Apples (1kg)

$4.66 LKR 1,564

$7.37 LKR 2,475

-36.77%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 276

$0.83 LKR 278

-1.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.65 LKR 1,563

$5.62 LKR 1,888

-17.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 LKR 363

$0.99 LKR 331

9.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 LKR 392

$1.14 LKR 384

2.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 LKR 525

$1.37 LKR 461

13.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 LKR 189

$1.16 LKR 388

-51.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 162

$0.61 LKR 204

-21.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.66 LKR 4,926

$10.14 LKR 3,408

44.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.44 LKR 4,180

$12.74 LKR 4,280

-2.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 LKR 779

$2.02 LKR 680

14.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 LKR 1,053

$2.93 LKR 986

6.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 LKR 141

$0.22 LKR 74.4

90.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 129

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 LKR 178

$0.33 LKR 111

60.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.32 LKR 106

$0.57 LKR 191

-43.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 LKR 357

$1.20 LKR 403

-11.67%

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

$21.7K LKR 7.3M

$27.3K LKR 9.2M

-20.57%

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

$21.4K LKR 7.2M

$34.8K LKR 11.7M

-38.60%

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

$60.7 LKR 20.4K

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

$2.25 LKR 755

$2.49 LKR 837

-9.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.23 LKR 2,767

$9.87 LKR 3,315

-16.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.99 LKR 3,355

Cinema Ticket

$2.61 LKR 875

$3.26 LKR 1,097

-19.94%

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

$36.89 LKR 12.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$448 LKR 150.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.53 LKR 3,873

$27.25 LKR 9,156

-57.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.41 LKR 2,825

$19.70 LKR 6,618

-57.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.5 LKR 32.1K

$70.0 LKR 23.5K

36.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.66 LKR 9,628

$38.31 LKR 12.9K

-25.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$82.8 LKR 27.8K

$237 LKR 79.8K

-65.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$61.4 LKR 20.6K

$151 LKR 50.6K

-59.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.9 LKR 31.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 LKR 55.5K

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Bentota: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $82.8 in Ratnapura and $237 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 $283 vs $239, 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 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $776 in Ratnapura and $973 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: $82.8 in Ratnapura versus $237 in Bentota. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Bentota pay roughly 18% 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 25% less than in Bentota. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.