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: $520 in Ratnapura versus $521 in Beruwala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $847 in Ratnapura versus $859 in Beruwala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,173 in Ratnapura versus $1,198 in Beruwala.

Monthly costs are close between Ratnapura and Beruwala; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.21 LKR 733

$3.98 LKR 1,319

-44.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.89 LKR 3,280

$25.26 LKR 8,377

-60.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.73 LKR 2,230

$8.30 LKR 2,753

-18.92%

Cappuccino

$2.39 LKR 791

$2.66 LKR 881

-10.15%

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

$0.82 LKR 272

$0.74 LKR 244

10.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 172

$0.41 LKR 135

26.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 LKR 729

$2.27 LKR 753

-3.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 985

$3.42 LKR 1,132

-13.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 LKR 652

$1.75 LKR 580

12.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.86 LKR 284

$0.52 LKR 172

65.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 LKR 240

$0.83 LKR 274

-13.25%

Eggs

$1.17 LKR 390

$2.21 LKR 732

-47.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.64 LKR 5,518

$13.84 LKR 4,588

20.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.84 LKR 2,267

$4.62 LKR 1,531

48.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.39 LKR 5,765

$7.95 LKR 2,635

118.74%

Apples (1kg)

$4.71 LKR 1,562

$7.29 LKR 2,417

-35.39%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 271

$1.06 LKR 351

-22.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 LKR 1,548

$5.70 LKR 1,890

-18.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 LKR 362

$1.26 LKR 417

-13.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 385

$1.10 LKR 365

5.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 LKR 498

$1.37 LKR 454

9.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 LKR 185

$1.20 LKR 397

-53.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 172

$0.60 LKR 198

-13.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.71 LKR 4,876

$10.01 LKR 3,319

46.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.45 LKR 4,129

$12.61 LKR 4,182

-1.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 LKR 738

$2.08 LKR 689

6.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 LKR 1,034

$2.93 LKR 970

6.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 LKR 137

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 129

$0.38 LKR 127

2.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 LKR 176

$0.33 LKR 109

60.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.34 LKR 113

$0.58 LKR 191

-41.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 LKR 353

$1.26 LKR 418

-15.08%

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

$22.1K LKR 7.3M

$27.2K LKR 9.0M

-18.92%

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

$21.3K LKR 7.1M

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

-39.52%

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

$61.2 LKR 20.3K

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

$2.33 LKR 773

$4.38 LKR 1,451

-46.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.13 LKR 2,697

$15.07 LKR 4,996

-46.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.18 LKR 3,377

Cinema Ticket

$2.66 LKR 884

$3.28 LKR 1,087

-18.90%

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

$37.37 LKR 12.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$438 LKR 145.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.76 LKR 3,901

$27.33 LKR 9,063

-56.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.56 LKR 2,838

$19.22 LKR 6,373

-55.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.5 LKR 31.0K

$68.5 LKR 22.7K

36.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.55 LKR 9,466

$38.67 LKR 12.8K

-26.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$85.0 LKR 28.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.4 LKR 19.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.3 LKR 30.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 LKR 57.0K

$150 LKR 49.7K

14.65%

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 Beruwala: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ratnapura pays 15% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $10.00 in Ratnapura vs $25.00 in Beruwala. Groceries flip the comparison at $282 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 pays 15% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Dining out is cheaper in Ratnapura – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $25.00 in Beruwala. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Shoppers in Beruwala pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

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.

It comes down to priorities – Ratnapura wins on affordability, Beruwala on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.