Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Hikkaduwa Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Hikkaduwa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $461 in Ratnapura versus $506 in Hikkaduwa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $749 in Ratnapura versus $824 in Hikkaduwa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,037 in Ratnapura versus $1,143 in Hikkaduwa.

Living in Ratnapura costs roughly 9% less than in Hikkaduwa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ratnapura 66% lower, Hikkaduwa 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.88 LKR 621

$4.36 LKR 1,438

-56.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.02 LKR 2,975

$25.28 LKR 8,341

-64.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.99 LKR 1,975

$7.51 LKR 2,479

-20.24%

Cappuccino

$2.11 LKR 695

$2.36 LKR 779

-10.59%

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

$0.78 LKR 256

$0.67 LKR 222

16.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 LKR 142

$0.25 LKR 81.8

72.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.97 LKR 651

$2.25 LKR 744

-12.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 LKR 910

$2.90 LKR 958

-4.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 LKR 575

$1.60 LKR 527

8.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 LKR 238

$0.51 LKR 169

41.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.65 LKR 216

$0.74 LKR 246

-12.16%

Eggs

$1.04 LKR 344

$1.53 LKR 506

-32.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 LKR 4,853

$12.98 LKR 4,283

13.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.41 LKR 2,114

$4.75 LKR 1,567

34.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.46 LKR 5,099

$7.19 LKR 2,373

115.02%

Apples (1kg)

$4.28 LKR 1,412

$6.65 LKR 2,192

-35.64%

Banana (1kg)

$0.70 LKR 230

$0.84 LKR 277

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 LKR 1,365

$4.60 LKR 1,517

-10.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 LKR 300

$1.22 LKR 402

-25.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 LKR 339

$0.94 LKR 309

9.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 LKR 445

$0.73 LKR 242

84.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 LKR 153

$0.92 LKR 302

-50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 LKR 143

$0.47 LKR 156

-8.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.03 LKR 4,297

$10.00 LKR 3,298

30.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.28 LKR 4,051

$13.17 LKR 4,344

-6.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 LKR 650

$1.86 LKR 614

5.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 LKR 939

$2.65 LKR 875

7.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 LKR 115

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.35 LKR 114

$0.38 LKR 125

-7.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 LKR 152

$0.35 LKR 115

31.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 LKR 297

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 LKR 306

$1.26 LKR 415

-26.19%

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

$19.2K LKR 6.3M

$30.3K LKR 10.0M

-36.57%

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

$19.3K LKR 6.4M

$38.6K LKR 12.7M

-49.82%

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

$51.8 LKR 17.1K

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

$1.97 LKR 650

$4.13 LKR 1,363

-52.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.22 LKR 2,380

$20.46 LKR 6,750

-64.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.00 LKR 2,968

Cinema Ticket

$2.37 LKR 781

$4.11 LKR 1,354

-42.34%

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

$37.49 LKR 12.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,209 LKR 398.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.26 LKR 3,386

$19.71 LKR 6,503

-47.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.36 LKR 2,429

$16.12 LKR 5,319

-54.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.8 LKR 27.3K

$80.3 LKR 26.5K

3.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.60 LKR 8,443

$42.58 LKR 14.0K

-39.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.8 LKR 24.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$53.1 LKR 17.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.9 LKR 27.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 LKR 54.1K

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: August 18, 2026

Last update for Hikkaduwa: August 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $9.00 in Ratnapura vs $25.00 in Hikkaduwa. Groceries flip the comparison at $254 vs $232, with Hikkaduwa 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 Hikkaduwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ratnapura is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $692 in Ratnapura and $759 in Hikkaduwa to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Shoppers in Hikkaduwa pay roughly 9% 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 $9.00 versus $25.00 in Hikkaduwa. 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 Hikkaduwa 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 10% less than in Hikkaduwa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.