Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Beruwala Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Beruwala

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $481 in Ratnapura versus $508 in Beruwala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $765 in Ratnapura versus $839 in Beruwala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,050 in Ratnapura versus $1,169 in Beruwala.

Living in Ratnapura costs roughly 5% less than in Beruwala, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ratnapura 65% lower, Beruwala 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.00 LKR 656

$4.34 LKR 1,425

-53.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.18 LKR 3,016

$25.65 LKR 8,429

-64.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.13 LKR 2,013

$7.53 LKR 2,475

-18.59%

Cappuccino

$2.08 LKR 683

$2.57 LKR 843

-19.07%

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

$0.79 LKR 259

$0.73 LKR 240

8.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 157

$0.25 LKR 81.4

92.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 LKR 655

$2.19 LKR 721

-9.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 LKR 908

$3.11 LKR 1,022

-11.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 LKR 594

$1.64 LKR 538

10.37%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 LKR 260

$0.53 LKR 175

49.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.66 LKR 218

$0.80 LKR 264

-17.50%

Eggs

$1.12 LKR 368

$1.60 LKR 525

-30.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.15 LKR 4,980

$13.32 LKR 4,376

13.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.51 LKR 2,139

$4.94 LKR 1,623

31.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.90 LKR 5,226

$7.37 LKR 2,422

115.74%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 LKR 1,420

$6.90 LKR 2,269

-37.39%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 251

$0.90 LKR 294

-15.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 LKR 1,432

$4.24 LKR 1,394

2.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 LKR 334

$1.24 LKR 408

-17.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 LKR 338

$1.00 LKR 329

3.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 LKR 451

$0.80 LKR 264

71.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 LKR 156

$0.91 LKR 298

-47.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 LKR 147

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.10 LKR 4,303

$10.27 LKR 3,376

27.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.62 LKR 4,148

$13.70 LKR 4,502

-7.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 LKR 692

$1.96 LKR 644

7.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 LKR 933

$2.89 LKR 950

-1.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 LKR 116

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.36 LKR 117

$0.38 LKR 125

-5.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 LKR 144

$0.35 LKR 116

25.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 LKR 311

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 LKR 326

$1.28 LKR 421

-22.66%

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

$19.6K LKR 6.5M

$30.8K LKR 10.1M

-36.23%

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

$19.7K LKR 6.5M

$43.1K LKR 14.2M

-54.21%

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

$55.9 LKR 18.4K

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

$2.01 LKR 662

$4.09 LKR 1,344

-50.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.49 LKR 2,462

$21.23 LKR 6,977

-64.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.02 LKR 2,964

Cinema Ticket

$2.40 LKR 787

$4.45 LKR 1,464

-46.07%

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

$37.46 LKR 12.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,236 LKR 406.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.79 LKR 3,545

$20.22 LKR 6,643

-46.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.76 LKR 2,550

$16.85 LKR 5,536

-53.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 LKR 28.2K

$80.2 LKR 26.4K

6.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.03 LKR 8,553

$42.96 LKR 14.1K

-39.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.6 LKR 25.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$54.0 LKR 17.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$86.2 LKR 28.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 LKR 55.9K

$152 LKR 50.0K

11.73%

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 Beruwala: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ratnapura pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $9.00 in Ratnapura vs $26.00 in Beruwala. Groceries flip the comparison at $262 vs $238, with Beruwala 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 Beruwala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ratnapura is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 12% higher in Ratnapura, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Beruwala 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 $9.00 versus $26.00 in Beruwala. 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 Beruwala 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 6% less than in Beruwala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.