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: $531 in Ratnapura versus $587 in Hikkaduwa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $838 in Ratnapura versus $1,120 in Hikkaduwa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,145 in Ratnapura versus $1,653 in Hikkaduwa.

Living in Ratnapura costs roughly 9% less than in Hikkaduwa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ratnapura 60% lower, Hikkaduwa 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.21 LKR 737

$3.93 LKR 1,311

-43.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.19 LKR 3,399

$24.89 LKR 8,302

-59.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.55 LKR 2,184

$8.56 LKR 2,855

-23.48%

Cappuccino

$2.40 LKR 800

$2.64 LKR 879

-9.09%

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

$0.80 LKR 267

$0.72 LKR 242

11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 173

$0.34 LKR 114

52.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 LKR 706

$2.31 LKR 769

-8.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 LKR 1,008

$3.31 LKR 1,103

-8.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 LKR 661

$1.75 LKR 582

13.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 LKR 277

$0.53 LKR 176

56.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 LKR 239

$0.81 LKR 270

-11.11%

Eggs

$1.19 LKR 399

$2.21 LKR 737

-46.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.56 LKR 5,523

$14.05 LKR 4,688

17.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.21 LKR 2,404

$4.56 LKR 1,522

58.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.39 LKR 5,799

$7.92 LKR 2,641

119.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.59 LKR 1,532

$7.50 LKR 2,501

-38.80%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 LKR 259

$0.34 LKR 114

129.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.74 LKR 1,583

$2.61 LKR 870

81.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 LKR 361

$0.98 LKR 327

10.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 LKR 389

$1.11 LKR 371

5.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 LKR 528

$0.36 LKR 120

338.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 LKR 176

$1.15 LKR 385

-53.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 159

$0.56 LKR 188

-14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 LKR 4,936

$9.94 LKR 3,314

48.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.63 LKR 4,214

$12.77 LKR 4,259

-1.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 LKR 771

$2.02 LKR 674

14.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 LKR 1,067

$2.84 LKR 949

12.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 LKR 137

$0.32 LKR 106

28.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 138

$0.38 LKR 127

7.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 LKR 175

$0.33 LKR 109

57.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.34 LKR 114

$0.61 LKR 204

-44.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 LKR 356

$1.21 LKR 404

-11.57%

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

$21.9K LKR 7.3M

$26.5K LKR 8.8M

-17.30%

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

$21.6K LKR 7.2M

$35.2K LKR 11.8M

-38.73%

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

$59.7 LKR 19.9K

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

$2.26 LKR 754

$4.34 LKR 1,449

-47.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.81 LKR 2,605

$15.42 LKR 5,144

-49.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.22 LKR 3,410

Cinema Ticket

$2.60 LKR 869

$3.27 LKR 1,091

-20.49%

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

$36.65 LKR 12.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$444 LKR 148.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.64 LKR 3,883

$27.54 LKR 9,185

-57.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.47 LKR 2,824

$19.60 LKR 6,537

-56.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.7 LKR 31.6K

$68.8 LKR 22.9K

37.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.23 LKR 9,416

$39.26 LKR 13.1K

-28.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$82.6 LKR 27.6K

$167 LKR 55.8K

-50.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.9 LKR 20.0K

$84.8 LKR 28.3K

-29.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,685 LKR 561.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.1 LKR 31.4K

$509 LKR 169.7K

-81.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 LKR 55.0K

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 Hikkaduwa: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $82.6 in Ratnapura and $167 in Hikkaduwa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $10.00 in Ratnapura vs $25.00 in Hikkaduwa. Groceries flip the comparison at $283 vs $235, 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 $797 in Ratnapura and $881 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $82.6 in Ratnapura versus $167 in Hikkaduwa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Hikkaduwa pay roughly 21% 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 $10.00 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.