Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $523 per month in Ratnapura vs $520 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, rent included.

A couple spends around $854 per month in Ratnapura vs $857 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,185 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,194 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, rent included.

Ratnapura costs about 1% more than Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ratnapura and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia are more affordable than the global median – Ratnapura 61% lower, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.22 LKR 708

$3.94 LKR 1,255

-43.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.12 LKR 3,225

$24.84 LKR 7,914

-59.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.90 LKR 2,197

$8.22 LKR 2,620

-16.06%

Cappuccino

$2.32 LKR 739

$2.61 LKR 833

-11.11%

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

$0.80 LKR 255

$0.73 LKR 232

9.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 LKR 164

$0.32 LKR 101

59.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 LKR 676

$2.27 LKR 724

-6.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 LKR 969

$3.41 LKR 1,087

-10.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 LKR 624

$1.73 LKR 551

13.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 LKR 257

$0.53 LKR 168

52.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.67 LKR 213

$0.87 LKR 278

-22.99%

Eggs

$1.18 LKR 376

$2.22 LKR 708

-46.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.59 LKR 5,285

$13.94 LKR 4,441

19.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.00 LKR 2,229

$4.68 LKR 1,493

49.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.62 LKR 5,614

$8.16 LKR 2,600

115.93%

Apples (1kg)

$4.60 LKR 1,466

$7.44 LKR 2,370

-38.17%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 LKR 248

$1.07 LKR 340

-27.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.56 LKR 1,454

$5.82 LKR 1,855

-21.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 337

$1.20 LKR 382

-11.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 353

$1.16 LKR 368

-4.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 LKR 502

$1.42 LKR 453

10.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 LKR 166

$1.15 LKR 367

-54.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 152

$0.55 LKR 176

-12.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.35 LKR 4,573

$10.08 LKR 3,212

42.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.91 LKR 4,114

$12.56 LKR 4,001

2.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 LKR 717

$2.10 LKR 668

7.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 LKR 1,007

$2.89 LKR 920

9.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 LKR 121

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 133

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 LKR 154

$0.35 LKR 113

37.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.32 LKR 101

$0.60 LKR 192

-46.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 LKR 330

$1.25 LKR 397

-16.80%

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

$21.5K LKR 6.8M

$27.2K LKR 8.7M

-21.04%

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

$21.8K LKR 7.0M

$34.7K LKR 11.1M

-37.13%

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

$60.7 LKR 19.3K

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

$2.25 LKR 718

$4.44 LKR 1,415

-49.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.87 LKR 2,508

$14.89 LKR 4,745

-47.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.92 LKR 3,162

Cinema Ticket

$2.70 LKR 861

$3.42 LKR 1,090

-21.05%

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

$37.47 LKR 11.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$436 LKR 138.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.55 LKR 3,678

$27.53 LKR 8,772

-58.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.61 LKR 2,745

$19.45 LKR 6,196

-55.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.7 LKR 29.9K

$69.1 LKR 22.0K

35.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.14 LKR 8,965

$38.02 LKR 12.1K

-25.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$85.2 LKR 27.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$60.4 LKR 19.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.6 LKR 29.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$174 LKR 55.3K

$216 LKR 68.8K

-19.63%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 24% higher in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $10.00 in Ratnapura versus $25.00 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. Groceries tell a different story – $282 in Ratnapura vs $256 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia – so Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ratnapura costs about 1% more than Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $784 per month in Ratnapura and $780 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $523 in Ratnapura and $520 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Ratnapura, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $523 in Ratnapura and $520 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia costs $520 versus $523 in Ratnapura. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ratnapura makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.