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 $531 per month in Ratnapura vs $526 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, rent included.

A couple spends around $838 per month in Ratnapura vs $868 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,145 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,210 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, rent included.

Ratnapura costs about 1% more than Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ratnapura and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia are more affordable than the global median – Ratnapura 60% lower, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.21 LKR 737

$3.98 LKR 1,328

-44.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.19 LKR 3,399

$24.84 LKR 8,288

-58.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.55 LKR 2,184

$8.48 LKR 2,829

-22.76%

Cappuccino

$2.40 LKR 800

$2.75 LKR 916

-12.73%

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

$0.80 LKR 267

$0.69 LKR 230

15.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 173

$0.34 LKR 115

52.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 LKR 706

$2.39 LKR 796

-11.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 LKR 1,008

$3.43 LKR 1,144

-11.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 LKR 661

$1.70 LKR 567

16.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 LKR 277

$0.56 LKR 187

48.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 LKR 239

$0.81 LKR 269

-11.11%

Eggs

$1.19 LKR 399

$2.16 LKR 719

-44.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.56 LKR 5,523

$14.09 LKR 4,701

17.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.21 LKR 2,404

$4.73 LKR 1,579

52.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.39 LKR 5,799

$7.88 LKR 2,630

120.69%

Apples (1kg)

$4.59 LKR 1,532

$7.70 LKR 2,569

-40.39%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 LKR 259

$1.10 LKR 367

-29.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.74 LKR 1,583

$5.84 LKR 1,949

-18.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 LKR 361

$1.21 LKR 403

-10.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 LKR 389

$1.16 LKR 388

0.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 LKR 528

$1.43 LKR 477

10.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 LKR 176

$1.18 LKR 395

-55.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 159

$0.57 LKR 189

-15.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 LKR 4,936

$9.98 LKR 3,328

48.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.63 LKR 4,214

$12.84 LKR 4,284

-1.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 LKR 771

$2.07 LKR 692

11.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 LKR 1,067

$2.98 LKR 994

7.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 LKR 137

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 138

$0.42 LKR 139

-2.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 LKR 175

$0.36 LKR 119

44.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.34 LKR 114

$0.60 LKR 200

-43.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 LKR 356

$1.25 LKR 416

-14.40%

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

$21.9K LKR 7.3M

$26.7K LKR 8.9M

-17.82%

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

$21.6K LKR 7.2M

$35.3K LKR 11.8M

-38.82%

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

$59.5 LKR 19.8K

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

$2.26 LKR 754

$4.39 LKR 1,463

-48.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.81 LKR 2,605

$14.94 LKR 4,984

-47.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.22 LKR 3,410

Cinema Ticket

$2.60 LKR 869

$3.31 LKR 1,104

-21.45%

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

$36.93 LKR 12.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$448 LKR 149.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.64 LKR 3,883

$27.64 LKR 9,221

-57.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.47 LKR 2,824

$19.48 LKR 6,497

-56.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.7 LKR 31.6K

$69.4 LKR 23.2K

36.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.23 LKR 9,416

$38.55 LKR 12.9K

-26.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$82.6 LKR 27.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.9 LKR 20.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.1 LKR 31.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 LKR 55.0K

$205 LKR 68.5K

-19.72%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 25% 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 – $283 in Ratnapura vs $258 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 Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $797 per month in Ratnapura and $789 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 $531 in Ratnapura and $526 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 $531 in Ratnapura and $526 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia costs $526 versus $531 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.