Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Ragama Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Ragama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $481 in Ratnapura versus $515 in Ragama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $765 in Ratnapura versus $835 in Ragama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,050 in Ratnapura versus $1,154 in Ragama.

Living in Ratnapura costs roughly 7% less than in Ragama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ratnapura 65% lower, Ragama 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.00 LKR 656

$4.41 LKR 1,448

-54.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.18 LKR 3,016

$26.20 LKR 8,610

-64.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.13 LKR 2,013

$7.64 LKR 2,509

-19.76%

Cappuccino

$2.08 LKR 683

$2.54 LKR 834

-18.11%

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

$0.79 LKR 259

$0.69 LKR 226

14.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 157

$0.27 LKR 88.7

77.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 LKR 655

$2.25 LKR 740

-11.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 LKR 908

$3.12 LKR 1,026

-11.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 LKR 594

$1.43 LKR 468

26.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 LKR 260

$0.51 LKR 166

54.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.66 LKR 218

$0.69 LKR 226

-4.35%

Eggs

$1.12 LKR 368

$1.66 LKR 546

-32.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.15 LKR 4,980

$13.16 LKR 4,324

15.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.51 LKR 2,139

$4.94 LKR 1,622

31.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.90 LKR 5,226

$7.23 LKR 2,376

119.92%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 LKR 1,420

$6.71 LKR 2,206

-35.62%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 251

$0.89 LKR 294

-14.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 LKR 1,432

$4.32 LKR 1,420

0.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 LKR 334

$1.24 LKR 408

-17.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 LKR 338

$1.04 LKR 343

-0.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 LKR 451

$0.80 LKR 262

71.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 LKR 156

$0.88 LKR 290

-45.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 LKR 147

$0.46 LKR 151

-2.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.10 LKR 4,303

$10.46 LKR 3,435

25.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.62 LKR 4,148

$13.56 LKR 4,457

-6.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 LKR 692

$2.00 LKR 656

5.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 LKR 933

$2.77 LKR 909

2.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 LKR 116

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.36 LKR 117

$0.39 LKR 128

-7.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 LKR 144

$0.39 LKR 127

12.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 LKR 303

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 LKR 326

$1.35 LKR 443

-26.67%

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

$19.6K LKR 6.5M

$30.0K LKR 9.8M

-34.46%

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

$19.7K LKR 6.5M

$41.7K LKR 13.7M

-52.60%

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

$54.4 LKR 17.9K

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

$2.01 LKR 662

$4.16 LKR 1,366

-51.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.49 LKR 2,462

$20.62 LKR 6,776

-63.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.02 LKR 2,964

Cinema Ticket

$2.40 LKR 787

$4.49 LKR 1,477

-46.55%

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

$38.72 LKR 12.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,242 LKR 408.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.79 LKR 3,545

$20.02 LKR 6,577

-46.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.76 LKR 2,550

$16.51 LKR 5,424

-53.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 LKR 28.2K

$79.6 LKR 26.1K

7.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.03 LKR 8,553

$41.71 LKR 13.7K

-37.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.6 LKR 25.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$54.0 LKR 17.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$86.2 LKR 28.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 LKR 55.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

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

Last update for Ratnapura: September 5, 2026

Last update for Ragama: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $9.00 in Ratnapura vs $26.00 in Ragama. Groceries flip the comparison at $262 vs $233, with Ragama 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 Ragama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ratnapura and Ragama differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($481 vs $515 including rent). Ratnapura is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $721 in Ratnapura and $773 in Ragama to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Dining out is cheaper in Ratnapura – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $26.00 in Ragama. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $481 per month in Ratnapura versus $515 in Ragama – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Ratnapura and Ragama 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 7% less than in Ragama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.