Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Moratuwa Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Moratuwa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $517 per month in Ratnapura vs $74.5 in Moratuwa, rent included.

A couple spends around $833 per month in Ratnapura vs $127 in Moratuwa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,149 per month in Ratnapura vs $179 in Moratuwa, rent included.

Ratnapura costs about 594% more than Moratuwa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ratnapura and Moratuwa are more affordable than the global median – Ratnapura 61% lower, Moratuwa 94% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.23 LKR 748

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.02 LKR 3,367

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.80 LKR 2,285

Cappuccino

$2.35 LKR 791

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

$0.82 LKR 274

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 174

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 LKR 749

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 LKR 1,039

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 LKR 686

$1.38 LKR 464

47.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 LKR 271

$0.48 LKR 161

68.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.67 LKR 226

$0.96 LKR 321

-30.21%

Eggs

$1.19 LKR 401

$2.73 LKR 917

-56.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.66 LKR 5,599

$13.43 LKR 4,512

24.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.14 LKR 2,401

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.18 LKR 5,774

Apples (1kg)

$4.66 LKR 1,564

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 276

Oranges (1kg)

$4.65 LKR 1,564

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 LKR 363

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 LKR 392

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 LKR 525

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 LKR 189

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 162

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.66 LKR 4,927

Wine (Bottle)

$12.44 LKR 4,181

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 LKR 779

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 LKR 1,053

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 LKR 141

$0.10 LKR 34.52

320.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 129

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 LKR 178

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.32 LKR 106

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 LKR 357

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

$21.7K LKR 7.3M

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

$21.4K LKR 7.2M

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

$2.25 LKR 755

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.23 LKR 2,767

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.99 LKR 3,356

Cinema Ticket

$2.61 LKR 876

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.53 LKR 3,874

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.41 LKR 2,825

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.5 LKR 32.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.66 LKR 9,630

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$82.8 LKR 27.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$61.4 LKR 20.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.9 LKR 31.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 LKR 55.5K

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

Last update for Ratnapura: July 14, 2026

Last update for Moratuwa: July 12, 2026

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 Moratuwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ratnapura is pricier by about 594%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $776 per month in Ratnapura and $112 in Moratuwa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $517 in Ratnapura and $74.5 in Moratuwa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 284% more in Ratnapura, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $517 in Ratnapura and $74.5 in Moratuwa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Moratuwa – 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 Moratuwa. 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.