Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Kataragama Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Kataragama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $528 per month in Ratnapura vs $520 in Kataragama, rent included.

A couple spends around $837 per month in Ratnapura vs $868 in Kataragama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,146 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,217 in Kataragama, rent included.

Ratnapura costs about 2% more than Kataragama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ratnapura and Kataragama are more affordable than the global median – Ratnapura 60% lower, Kataragama 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 LKR 704

$3.92 LKR 1,305

-46.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.98 LKR 3,323

$25.61 LKR 8,528

-61.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 LKR 2,277

$8.55 LKR 2,848

-20.00%

Cappuccino

$2.32 LKR 773

$2.76 LKR 921

-15.94%

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

$0.86 LKR 288

$0.69 LKR 230

24.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 161

$0.38 LKR 126

26.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 LKR 748

$2.35 LKR 783

-4.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 LKR 979

$3.37 LKR 1,123

-12.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 LKR 687

$1.70 LKR 568

21.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 LKR 268

$0.55 LKR 184

45.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.69 LKR 228

$0.88 LKR 293

-21.59%

Eggs

$1.23 LKR 410

$2.19 LKR 728

-43.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.64 LKR 5,541

$14.22 LKR 4,736

17.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.04 LKR 2,346

$4.56 LKR 1,520

54.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.63 LKR 5,871

$8.24 LKR 2,744

113.96%

Apples (1kg)

$4.65 LKR 1,549

$7.55 LKR 2,513

-38.41%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 255

$1.06 LKR 352

-28.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 LKR 1,555

$5.91 LKR 1,967

-20.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 LKR 347

$1.21 LKR 403

-14.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 LKR 376

$1.15 LKR 382

-1.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 LKR 523

$1.37 LKR 456

14.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 LKR 175

$1.20 LKR 399

-55.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 173

$0.61 LKR 202

-14.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.59 LKR 4,860

$10.00 LKR 3,329

45.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.75 LKR 4,247

$12.95 LKR 4,313

-1.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 LKR 780

$1.99 LKR 663

17.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 LKR 1,051

$2.87 LKR 956

10.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 LKR 127

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 128

$0.42 LKR 139

-7.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 LKR 161

$0.33 LKR 109

45.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.32 LKR 106

$0.60 LKR 200

-46.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 LKR 345

$1.21 LKR 404

-14.05%

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

$21.3K LKR 7.1M

$27.2K LKR 9.1M

-21.58%

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

$21.9K LKR 7.3M

$35.0K LKR 11.7M

-37.60%

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

$60.1 LKR 20.0K

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

$2.33 LKR 776

$4.44 LKR 1,478

-47.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.24 LKR 2,744

$14.89 LKR 4,959

-44.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.19 LKR 3,394

Cinema Ticket

$2.72 LKR 907

$3.37 LKR 1,122

-19.29%

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

$37.55 LKR 12.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$448 LKR 149.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.57 LKR 3,851

$27.93 LKR 9,301

-58.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.57 LKR 2,853

$19.12 LKR 6,366

-55.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 LKR 30.8K

$70.3 LKR 23.4K

31.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.02 LKR 9,664

$38.17 LKR 12.7K

-23.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$83.0 LKR 27.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.3 LKR 19.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.1 LKR 31.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 LKR 55.9K

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 13, 2026

Last update for Kataragama: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $10.00 in Ratnapura versus $26.00 in Kataragama. Groceries tell a different story – $285 in Ratnapura vs $259 in Kataragama – so Kataragama wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Kataragama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ratnapura costs about 2% more than Kataragama, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $792 per month in Ratnapura and $780 in Kataragama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $528 in Ratnapura and $520 in Kataragama. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Ratnapura, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $528 in Ratnapura and $520 in Kataragama, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Kataragama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Kataragama. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ratnapura makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.