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: $524 in Ratnapura versus $526 in Ragama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $845 in Ratnapura versus $851 in Ragama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,166 in Ratnapura versus $1,177 in Ragama.

Monthly costs are close between Ratnapura and Ragama; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ratnapura 61% lower, Ragama 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.22 LKR 704

$3.92 LKR 1,240

-43.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.13 LKR 3,208

$25.21 LKR 7,978

-59.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.73 LKR 2,132

$8.54 LKR 2,703

-21.19%

Cappuccino

$2.36 LKR 746

$2.73 LKR 865

-13.55%

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

$0.86 LKR 271

$0.74 LKR 233

16.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 166

$0.40 LKR 127

30.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 LKR 685

$2.32 LKR 734

-6.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 LKR 972

$3.26 LKR 1,032

-5.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 LKR 652

$1.58 LKR 501

30.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 LKR 256

$0.53 LKR 168

52.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.67 LKR 211

$0.75 LKR 238

-10.67%

Eggs

$1.24 LKR 393

$2.19 LKR 694

-43.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.48 LKR 5,217

$14.03 LKR 4,441

17.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.96 LKR 2,204

$4.64 LKR 1,468

50.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.55 LKR 5,554

$7.93 LKR 2,509

121.31%

Apples (1kg)

$4.81 LKR 1,521

$7.69 LKR 2,433

-37.45%

Banana (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 264

$1.07 LKR 340

-22.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.74 LKR 1,502

$5.69 LKR 1,801

-16.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 LKR 331

$1.26 LKR 399

-16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 LKR 370

$1.11 LKR 351

5.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 LKR 493

$1.18 LKR 375

32.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 LKR 178

$1.16 LKR 367

-51.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 152

$0.61 LKR 192

-21.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.48 LKR 4,584

$10.10 LKR 3,198

43.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.40 LKR 4,241

$12.87 LKR 4,073

4.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 LKR 732

$2.00 LKR 632

15.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 LKR 977

$2.96 LKR 936

4.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 LKR 123

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 130

$0.39 LKR 123

5.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 LKR 153

$0.35 LKR 111

37.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.32 LKR 100

$0.56 LKR 178

-42.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 LKR 326

$1.26 LKR 400

-18.25%

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

$22.0K LKR 7.0M

$27.3K LKR 8.6M

-19.24%

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

$21.4K LKR 6.8M

$34.7K LKR 11.0M

-38.36%

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

$59.0 LKR 18.7K

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

$2.20 LKR 697

$4.43 LKR 1,404

-50.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.85 LKR 2,484

$15.40 LKR 4,875

-49.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.07 LKR 3,188

Cinema Ticket

$2.60 LKR 824

$3.45 LKR 1,091

-24.64%

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

$37.37 LKR 11.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$440 LKR 139.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.70 LKR 3,703

$27.22 LKR 8,616

-57.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.17 LKR 2,585

$19.32 LKR 6,116

-57.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.5 LKR 29.6K

$70.2 LKR 22.2K

33.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.36 LKR 8,975

$39.05 LKR 12.4K

-27.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$84.4 LKR 26.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$61.4 LKR 19.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.4 LKR 29.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 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: April 22, 2026

Last update for Ragama: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $84 in Ratnapura and $0 in Ragama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $10 in Ratnapura vs $25 in Ragama. Groceries flip the comparison at $286 vs $255, 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

You'd need roughly $787 in Ratnapura and $789 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 $10.00 versus $25.00 in Ragama. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Shoppers in Ragama pay roughly 12% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

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.

It comes down to priorities – Ratnapura wins on affordability, Ragama on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.