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: $523 in Ratnapura versus $582 in Hikkaduwa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $854 in Ratnapura versus $1,102 in Hikkaduwa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,185 in Ratnapura versus $1,621 in Hikkaduwa.

Living in Ratnapura costs roughly 10% less than in Hikkaduwa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ratnapura 61% lower, Hikkaduwa 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.22 LKR 709

$4.04 LKR 1,287

-45.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.12 LKR 3,228

$25.16 LKR 8,024

-59.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.90 LKR 2,199

$8.40 LKR 2,680

-17.86%

Cappuccino

$2.32 LKR 739

$2.65 LKR 844

-12.45%

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

$0.80 LKR 255

$0.70 LKR 222

14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 LKR 164

$0.32 LKR 101

59.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 LKR 677

$2.30 LKR 733

-7.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 LKR 970

$3.26 LKR 1,040

-6.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 LKR 624

$1.67 LKR 533

17.37%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 LKR 257

$0.55 LKR 177

47.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.67 LKR 213

$0.81 LKR 257

-17.28%

Eggs

$1.18 LKR 376

$2.20 LKR 702

-46.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.59 LKR 5,290

$13.96 LKR 4,453

18.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.00 LKR 2,231

$4.71 LKR 1,502

48.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.62 LKR 5,619

$7.95 LKR 2,534

121.64%

Apples (1kg)

$4.60 LKR 1,467

$7.41 LKR 2,364

-37.92%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 LKR 248

$0.32 LKR 101

143.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.56 LKR 1,455

$2.76 LKR 880

65.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 338

$1.02 LKR 325

3.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 353

$1.11 LKR 355

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 LKR 502

$0.36 LKR 115

336.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 LKR 166

$1.18 LKR 377

-55.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 152

$0.55 LKR 177

-12.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.35 LKR 4,578

$10.19 LKR 3,249

40.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.91 LKR 4,118

$12.31 LKR 3,927

4.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 LKR 718

$2.10 LKR 670

7.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 LKR 1,008

$2.99 LKR 955

5.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 LKR 121

$0.32 LKR 102

18.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 133

$0.39 LKR 124

7.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 LKR 155

$0.33 LKR 105

45.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.32 LKR 101

$0.57 LKR 183

-43.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 LKR 330

$1.26 LKR 401

-17.46%

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

$21.5K LKR 6.8M

$26.3K LKR 8.4M

-18.29%

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

$21.8K LKR 7.0M

$34.2K LKR 10.9M

-36.09%

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

$59.4 LKR 18.9K

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

$2.25 LKR 719

$4.22 LKR 1,345

-46.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.87 LKR 2,511

$15.01 LKR 4,788

-47.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.92 LKR 3,165

Cinema Ticket

$2.70 LKR 862

$3.40 LKR 1,086

-20.59%

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

$37.48 LKR 12.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$448 LKR 142.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.55 LKR 3,682

$27.91 LKR 8,902

-58.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.61 LKR 2,747

$19.04 LKR 6,071

-54.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.7 LKR 29.9K

$69.8 LKR 22.2K

34.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.14 LKR 8,973

$38.27 LKR 12.2K

-26.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$85.2 LKR 27.2K

$170 LKR 54.2K

-49.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$60.4 LKR 19.3K

$82.5 LKR 26.3K

-26.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,663 LKR 530.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.6 LKR 29.5K

$512 LKR 163.2K

-81.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$174 LKR 55.3K

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 Hikkaduwa: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $85.2 in Ratnapura and $170 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 $282 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 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $784 in Ratnapura and $874 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: $85.2 in Ratnapura versus $170 in Hikkaduwa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Hikkaduwa pay roughly 20% 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 11% less than in Hikkaduwa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.