Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Kandy Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Kandy

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $520 in Ratnapura versus $535 in Kandy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $849 in Ratnapura versus $854 in Kandy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,177 in Ratnapura versus $1,173 in Kandy.

Living in Ratnapura costs roughly 3% less than in Kandy, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ratnapura 61% lower, Kandy 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 LKR 740

$2.75 LKR 924

-20.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.01 LKR 3,365

$11.88 LKR 3,992

-15.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.51 LKR 2,188

$6.36 LKR 2,138

2.36%

Cappuccino

$2.29 LKR 771

$2.63 LKR 885

-12.93%

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

$0.80 LKR 270

$0.60 LKR 201

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 161

$0.32 LKR 109

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 LKR 722

$2.13 LKR 716

0.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 LKR 1,016

$3.37 LKR 1,134

-10.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 LKR 672

$1.41 LKR 473

41.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 LKR 274

$0.52 LKR 173

57.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 LKR 242

$0.86 LKR 289

-16.28%

Eggs

$1.23 LKR 415

$2.17 LKR 729

-43.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.20 LKR 5,445

$8.61 LKR 2,894

88.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.09 LKR 2,382

$4.53 LKR 1,524

56.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.39 LKR 5,847

$7.97 LKR 2,680

118.19%

Apples (1kg)

$4.60 LKR 1,545

$4.48 LKR 1,507

2.68%

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 LKR 260

$0.97 LKR 327

-20.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.58 LKR 1,541

$3.77 LKR 1,266

21.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 LKR 364

$1.21 LKR 405

-10.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 LKR 380

$1.16 LKR 391

-2.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.52 LKR 510

$1.25 LKR 420

21.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 LKR 185

$0.78 LKR 262

-29.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 160

$0.56 LKR 188

-14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.44 LKR 4,854

$9.28 LKR 3,119

55.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.35 LKR 4,152

$11.47 LKR 3,854

7.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 LKR 781

$2.10 LKR 705

10.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 LKR 1,045

$2.74 LKR 921

13.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 LKR 139

$0.18 LKR 59.6

127.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.28 LKR 5,136

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 138

$0.39 LKR 130

5.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 LKR 179

$0.33 LKR 110

60.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.34 LKR 115

$0.43 LKR 146

-20.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 LKR 358

$1.25 LKR 421

-14.40%

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

$21.6K LKR 7.3M

$17.8K LKR 6.0M

21.81%

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

$21.4K LKR 7.2M

$21.7K LKR 7.3M

-1.20%

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

$40.58 LKR 13.6K

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

$2.30 LKR 774

$4.37 LKR 1,470

-47.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.26 LKR 2,777

$15.38 LKR 5,170

-46.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.15 LKR 3,412

$14.79 LKR 4,970

-31.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.71 LKR 1,919

Cinema Ticket

$2.63 LKR 885

$3.42 LKR 1,150

-23.10%

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

$36.45 LKR 12.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$324 LKR 108.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.89 LKR 3,998

$27.66 LKR 9,298

-57.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.19 LKR 2,754

$14.38 LKR 4,833

-43.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 LKR 31.6K

$56.1 LKR 18.8K

67.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.09 LKR 9,443

$30.16 LKR 10.1K

-6.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$82.2 LKR 27.6K

$136 LKR 45.9K

-39.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.3 LKR 19.9K

$83.4 LKR 28.0K

-28.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$219 LKR 73.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.0 LKR 31.9K

$161 LKR 54.2K

-41.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$392 LKR 131.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$399 LKR 134.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 LKR 56.1K

$261 LKR 87.6K

-35.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ratnapura: July 21, 2026

Last update for Kandy: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $82.2 in Ratnapura and $136 in Kandy. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kandy pays 56% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $10.00 in Ratnapura vs $12.00 in Kandy. Groceries flip the comparison at $280 vs $208, with Kandy 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 Kandy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ratnapura is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 56% lower in Kandy. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $82.2 in Ratnapura versus $136 in Kandy. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Kandy pay roughly 35% 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 $12.00 in Kandy. 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.

For families, Ratnapura is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kandy, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Ratnapura and Kandy 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 3% less than in Kandy. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.