Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Kolonnawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Kolonnawa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $531 per month in Ratnapura vs $507 in Kolonnawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $838 per month in Ratnapura vs $826 in Kolonnawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,145 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,144 in Kolonnawa, rent included.

Ratnapura costs about 5% more than Kolonnawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ratnapura and Kolonnawa are more affordable than the global median – Ratnapura 60% lower, Kolonnawa 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.21 LKR 737

$4.08 LKR 1,361

-45.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.19 LKR 3,399

$25.32 LKR 8,445

-59.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.55 LKR 2,184

$8.28 LKR 2,761

-20.89%

Cappuccino

$2.40 LKR 800

$2.75 LKR 918

-12.73%

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

$0.80 LKR 267

$0.69 LKR 231

15.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 173

$0.38 LKR 126

36.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 LKR 706

$2.30 LKR 767

-7.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 LKR 1,008

$3.26 LKR 1,088

-7.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 LKR 661

$1.72 LKR 573

15.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 LKR 277

$0.52 LKR 174

59.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 LKR 239

$0.74 LKR 247

-2.70%

Eggs

$1.19 LKR 399

$2.16 LKR 719

-44.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.56 LKR 5,523

$8.26 LKR 2,755

100.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.21 LKR 2,404

$4.71 LKR 1,572

53.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.39 LKR 5,799

$8.07 LKR 2,693

115.49%

Apples (1kg)

$4.59 LKR 1,532

$7.32 LKR 2,442

-37.30%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 LKR 259

$1.07 LKR 358

-27.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.74 LKR 1,583

$5.80 LKR 1,935

-18.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 LKR 361

$1.26 LKR 422

-14.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 LKR 389

$1.10 LKR 366

6.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 LKR 528

$1.40 LKR 466

12.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 LKR 176

$1.15 LKR 383

-53.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 159

$0.52 LKR 172

-7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 LKR 4,936

$9.92 LKR 3,310

49.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.63 LKR 4,214

$10.34 LKR 3,447

22.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 LKR 771

$1.99 LKR 664

16.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 LKR 1,067

$2.43 LKR 809

31.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 LKR 137

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 138

$0.41 LKR 137

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 LKR 175

$0.35 LKR 117

48.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.34 LKR 114

$0.60 LKR 200

-43.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 LKR 356

$1.20 LKR 401

-10.83%

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

$21.9K LKR 7.3M

$27.0K LKR 9.0M

-18.78%

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

$21.6K LKR 7.2M

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

-38.68%

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

$59.9 LKR 20.0K

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

$2.26 LKR 754

$4.21 LKR 1,404

-46.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.81 LKR 2,605

$14.88 LKR 4,964

-47.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.22 LKR 3,410

$10.13 LKR 3,379

0.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.66 LKR 553

Cinema Ticket

$2.60 LKR 869

$3.38 LKR 1,129

-23.08%

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

$37.47 LKR 12.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$439 LKR 146.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.64 LKR 3,883

$27.75 LKR 9,258

-58.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.47 LKR 2,824

$19.76 LKR 6,591

-57.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.7 LKR 31.6K

$68.2 LKR 22.7K

38.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.23 LKR 9,416

$38.86 LKR 13.0K

-27.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$82.6 LKR 27.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.9 LKR 20.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.1 LKR 31.4K

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 Kolonnawa: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $10.00 in Ratnapura versus $25.00 in Kolonnawa. Groceries tell a different story – $283 in Ratnapura vs $231 in Kolonnawa – so Kolonnawa 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 Kolonnawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ratnapura costs about 5% more than Kolonnawa, 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 $797 per month in Ratnapura and $761 in Kolonnawa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $531 in Ratnapura and $507 in Kolonnawa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 22% 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 $531 in Ratnapura and $507 in Kolonnawa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kolonnawa costs $507 versus $531 in Ratnapura. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Kolonnawa. 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.