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 $484 per month in Ratnapura vs $487 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, rent included.

A couple spends around $779 per month in Ratnapura vs $799 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,073 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,110 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, rent included.

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

Both Ratnapura and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia are more affordable than the global median – Ratnapura 65% lower, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 LKR 640

$1.54 LKR 508

25.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.13 LKR 3,019

$26.39 LKR 8,725

-65.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.17 LKR 2,040

$7.45 LKR 2,463

-17.18%

Cappuccino

$2.12 LKR 700

$2.58 LKR 854

-17.83%

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

$0.74 LKR 244

$0.73 LKR 240

1.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 LKR 157

$0.27 LKR 90.2

74.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 LKR 668

$2.29 LKR 758

-11.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 LKR 896

$3.03 LKR 1,003

-10.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 LKR 600

$1.56 LKR 515

16.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 LKR 256

$0.53 LKR 175

45.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.61 LKR 203

$0.82 LKR 270

-25.61%

Eggs

$1.08 LKR 357

$1.65 LKR 546

-34.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.01 LKR 4,963

$13.21 LKR 4,369

13.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.31 LKR 2,086

$5.15 LKR 1,703

22.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.81 LKR 5,229

$7.20 LKR 2,381

119.58%

Apples (1kg)

$4.40 LKR 1,454

$7.01 LKR 2,317

-37.23%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 251

$0.90 LKR 297

-15.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.26 LKR 1,407

$4.30 LKR 1,422

-0.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 LKR 332

$1.28 LKR 424

-21.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 352

$1.00 LKR 331

6.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 LKR 477

$0.79 LKR 261

82.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 LKR 158

$0.91 LKR 300

-47.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 158

$0.49 LKR 163

-2.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.12 LKR 4,339

$10.33 LKR 3,416

27.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.76 LKR 4,219

$13.73 LKR 4,540

-7.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 LKR 676

$1.88 LKR 623

8.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 LKR 968

$2.84 LKR 939

3.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 LKR 117

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 127

$0.41 LKR 136

-7.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 LKR 156

$0.36 LKR 118

30.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 LKR 297

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 LKR 321

$1.28 LKR 422

-24.22%

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

$19.9K LKR 6.6M

$30.5K LKR 10.1M

-34.66%

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

$19.8K LKR 6.6M

$43.3K LKR 14.3M

-54.17%

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

$56.2 LKR 18.6K

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

$2.13 LKR 704

$4.15 LKR 1,372

-48.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.40 LKR 2,448

$21.26 LKR 7,028

-65.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.04 LKR 2,988

Cinema Ticket

$2.39 LKR 791

$4.43 LKR 1,465

-46.05%

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

$37.37 LKR 12.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,213 LKR 401.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.50 LKR 3,472

$20.47 LKR 6,768

-48.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.79 LKR 2,577

$16.70 LKR 5,521

-53.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 LKR 28.0K

$80.8 LKR 26.7K

4.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.60 LKR 8,463

$42.73 LKR 14.1K

-40.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.8 LKR 25.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$53.8 LKR 17.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$454 LKR 150.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.0 LKR 28.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 LKR 55.4K

$211 LKR 69.6K

-20.42%

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 12, 2026

Last update for Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 26% higher in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Ratnapura versus $26.00 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. Groceries tell a different story – $261 in Ratnapura vs $238 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

Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia costs about 1% more than Ratnapura, 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 $726 per month in Ratnapura and $731 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 $484 in Ratnapura and $487 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $484 in Ratnapura and $487 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ratnapura costs $484 versus $487 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. 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 Ratnapura. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.