Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Nuwara Eliya Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Nuwara Eliya

😐 Solo nomad: Ratnapura is 15.5% more expensive than Nuwara Eliya without rent, and 1% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Ratnapura is 13.4% cheaper than Nuwara Eliya without rent, and 5.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ratnapura
Nuwara Eliya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14 LKR 638
$4.08 LKR 1,218
-47.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.03 LKR 2,997
$24.91 LKR 7,444
-59.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.79 LKR 2,030
$8.55 LKR 2,554
-20.58%
Cappuccino
$2.32 LKR 694
$2.72 LKR 811
-14.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.8 LKR 240
$0.73 LKR 219
9.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 LKR 143
$0.41 LKR 121
17.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 LKR 638
$2.28 LKR 681
-6.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 LKR 923
$3.34 LKR 997
-7.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ratnapura
Nuwara Eliya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.96 LKR 586
$1.69 LKR 505
15.98%
White Bread (500g)
$0.82 LKR 244
$0.56 LKR 167
46.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.67 LKR 199
$0.81 LKR 242
-17.28%
Eggs
$1.19 LKR 356
$2.23 LKR 666
-46.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.64 LKR 4,972
$14.18 LKR 4,237
17.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.83 LKR 2,041
$4.56 LKR 1,362
49.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.57 LKR 5,250
$8.21 LKR 2,453
114.01%
Apples (1kg)
$4.6 LKR 1,374
$7.56 LKR 2,258
-39.15%
Banana (1kg)
$0.76 LKR 228
$1.08 LKR 323
-29.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.6 LKR 1,373
$5.72 LKR 1,709
-19.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.09 LKR 326
$1.21 LKR 362
-9.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 LKR 350
$1.1 LKR 330
6.36%
Onion (1kg)
$1.58 LKR 472
$1.4 LKR 419
12.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.53 LKR 158
$1.19 LKR 357
-55.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 LKR 155
$0.55 LKR 165
-5.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.66 LKR 4,381
$10.02 LKR 2,993
46.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.56 LKR 4,052
$14.19 LKR 4,239
-4.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.32 LKR 693
$2.03 LKR 607
14.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 LKR 943
$2.98 LKR 890
5.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Ratnapura
Nuwara Eliya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.41 LKR 123
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.42 LKR 124
$0.41 LKR 124
2.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.5 LKR 148
$0.36 LKR 106
38.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.32 LKR 95.3
$0.6 LKR 179
-46.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 LKR 306
$1.26 LKR 376
-19.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K LKR 6.4M
$26.8K LKR 8M
-20.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1K LKR 6.6M
$34.2K LKR 10.2M
-35.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ratnapura
Nuwara Eliya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$60.1 LKR 18K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.28 LKR 681
$4.25 LKR 1,269
-46.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.23 LKR 2,459
$15.13 LKR 4,520
-45.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ratnapura
Nuwara Eliya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$10.03 LKR 2,997
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.65 LKR 791
$3.29 LKR 984
-19.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ratnapura
Nuwara Eliya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$37.32 LKR 11.2K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$443 LKR 132.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ratnapura
Nuwara Eliya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.61 LKR 3,468
$27.16 LKR 8,117
-57.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.44 LKR 2,521
$19.23 LKR 5,746
-56.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.5 LKR 28.2K
$68.2 LKR 20.4K
38.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.97 LKR 8,657
$39.18 LKR 11.7K
-26.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ratnapura
Nuwara Eliya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$83.6 LKR 25K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$60.7 LKR 18.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$93.4 LKR 27.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ratnapura
Nuwara Eliya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$186 LKR 55.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
16.45
-

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

Last update for Ratnapura: October 28, 2025

Last update for Nuwara Eliya: October 27, 2025

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