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: $517 in Ratnapura versus $521 in Beruwala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $833 in Ratnapura versus $864 in Beruwala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,149 in Ratnapura versus $1,208 in Beruwala.

Living in Ratnapura costs roughly 1% less than in Beruwala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.23 LKR 748

$3.93 LKR 1,321

-43.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.02 LKR 3,367

$25.61 LKR 8,605

-60.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.80 LKR 2,284

$8.60 LKR 2,891

-20.93%

Cappuccino

$2.35 LKR 791

$2.73 LKR 917

-13.92%

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

$0.82 LKR 274

$0.74 LKR 248

10.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 174

$0.40 LKR 136

30.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 LKR 749

$2.39 LKR 803

-6.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 LKR 1,038

$3.39 LKR 1,140

-8.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 LKR 686

$1.70 LKR 573

20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 LKR 271

$0.55 LKR 185

47.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.67 LKR 226

$0.81 LKR 271

-17.28%

Eggs

$1.19 LKR 401

$2.19 LKR 734

-45.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.66 LKR 5,598

$13.99 LKR 4,700

19.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.14 LKR 2,400

$4.54 LKR 1,525

57.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.18 LKR 5,773

$8.06 LKR 2,708

113.15%

Apples (1kg)

$4.66 LKR 1,564

$7.35 LKR 2,469

-36.60%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 276

$1.12 LKR 375

-26.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.65 LKR 1,563

$5.78 LKR 1,941

-19.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 LKR 363

$1.24 LKR 418

-12.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 LKR 392

$1.14 LKR 385

2.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 LKR 525

$1.41 LKR 474

10.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 LKR 189

$1.15 LKR 386

-51.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 162

$0.60 LKR 202

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.66 LKR 4,926

$9.87 LKR 3,314

48.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.44 LKR 4,180

$12.46 LKR 4,188

-0.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 LKR 779

$2.04 LKR 685

13.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 LKR 1,053

$2.99 LKR 1,004

4.68%

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

$0.32 LKR 109

65.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.32 LKR 106

$0.58 LKR 194

-44.83%

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

$26.9K LKR 9.0M

-19.46%

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

$21.4K LKR 7.2M

$35.1K LKR 11.8M

-39.12%

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

$59.0 LKR 19.8K

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

$2.25 LKR 755

$4.39 LKR 1,476

-48.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.23 LKR 2,767

$15.06 LKR 5,061

-45.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.99 LKR 3,355

Cinema Ticket

$2.61 LKR 875

$3.39 LKR 1,140

-23.01%

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

$36.17 LKR 12.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$437 LKR 147.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.53 LKR 3,873

$28.01 LKR 9,412

-58.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.41 LKR 2,825

$19.61 LKR 6,590

-57.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.5 LKR 32.1K

$69.5 LKR 23.4K

37.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.66 LKR 9,628

$39.30 LKR 13.2K

-27.07%

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

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 LKR 55.5K

$151 LKR 50.8K

9.33%

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 Beruwala: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ratnapura pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $10.00 in Ratnapura vs $26.00 in Beruwala. Groceries flip the comparison at $283 vs $255, 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 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 9% 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 11% 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 $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 1% less than in Beruwala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.