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: $524 in Ratnapura versus $549 in Kandy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $845 in Ratnapura versus $862 in Kandy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,166 in Ratnapura versus $1,175 in Kandy.

Living in Ratnapura costs roughly 5% less than in Kandy, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ratnapura 61% lower, Kandy 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.22 LKR 704

$2.77 LKR 877

-19.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.13 LKR 3,208

$11.69 LKR 3,700

-13.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.73 LKR 2,132

$6.60 LKR 2,087

1.97%

Cappuccino

$2.36 LKR 746

$2.61 LKR 825

-9.58%

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

$0.86 LKR 271

$0.61 LKR 193

40.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 166

$0.30 LKR 94.5

73.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 LKR 685

$2.12 LKR 670

1.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 LKR 972

$3.37 LKR 1,067

-8.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 LKR 652

$1.45 LKR 458

42.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 LKR 256

$0.56 LKR 177

44.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.67 LKR 211

$0.87 LKR 275

-22.99%

Eggs

$1.24 LKR 393

$2.13 LKR 674

-41.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.48 LKR 5,217

$8.95 LKR 2,832

84.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.96 LKR 2,204

$4.77 LKR 1,511

45.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.55 LKR 5,554

$8.12 LKR 2,570

116.13%

Apples (1kg)

$4.81 LKR 1,521

$4.64 LKR 1,467

3.66%

Banana (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 264

$1.02 LKR 324

-18.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.74 LKR 1,502

$3.63 LKR 1,150

30.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 LKR 331

$1.26 LKR 398

-16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 LKR 370

$1.14 LKR 362

2.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 LKR 493

$1.23 LKR 390

26.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 LKR 178

$0.77 LKR 245

-27.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 152

$0.56 LKR 177

-14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.48 LKR 4,584

$9.25 LKR 2,928

56.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.40 LKR 4,241

$12.05 LKR 3,814

11.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 LKR 732

$2.06 LKR 652

12.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 LKR 977

$2.71 LKR 858

14.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 LKR 123

$0.17 LKR 55.3

129.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.20 LKR 4,810

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 130

$0.42 LKR 132

-2.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 LKR 153

$0.35 LKR 111

37.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.32 LKR 100

$0.40 LKR 128

-20.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 LKR 326

$1.21 LKR 384

-14.88%

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

$22.0K LKR 7.0M

$17.7K LKR 5.6M

24.62%

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

$21.4K LKR 6.8M

$21.2K LKR 6.7M

1.21%

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

$40.48 LKR 12.8K

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

$2.20 LKR 697

$4.27 LKR 1,353

-48.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.85 LKR 2,484

$14.97 LKR 4,737

-47.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.07 LKR 3,188

$15.12 LKR 4,784

-33.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.82 LKR 1,841

Cinema Ticket

$2.60 LKR 824

$3.40 LKR 1,077

-23.53%

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

$36.64 LKR 11.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$321 LKR 101.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.70 LKR 3,703

$27.83 LKR 8,808

-57.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.17 LKR 2,585

$14.44 LKR 4,569

-43.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.5 LKR 29.6K

$57.1 LKR 18.1K

63.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.36 LKR 8,975

$29.77 LKR 9,423

-4.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$84.4 LKR 26.7K

$132 LKR 41.9K

-36.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$61.4 LKR 19.4K

$85.3 LKR 27.0K

-28.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$221 LKR 69.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.4 LKR 29.2K

$161 LKR 51.0K

-42.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$428 LKR 135.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$417 LKR 132.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 LKR 55.9K

$277 LKR 87.6K

-36.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Ratnapura: April 22, 2026

Last update for Kandy: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $84 in Ratnapura and $132 in Kandy. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kandy pays 57% 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 in Ratnapura vs $12 in Kandy. Groceries flip the comparison at $286 vs $213, 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 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Kandy earns 57% less. 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: $84.4 in Ratnapura versus $132 in Kandy. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Kandy pay roughly 34% 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 5% less than in Kandy. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.