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: $534 in Ratnapura versus $519 in Ragama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $858 in Ratnapura versus $861 in Ragama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,183 in Ratnapura versus $1,203 in Ragama.

Living in Ratnapura is roughly 3% more expensive than in Ragama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ratnapura 60% lower, Ragama 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.19 LKR 734

$4.07 LKR 1,363

-46.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.13 LKR 3,393

$24.91 LKR 8,346

-59.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.81 LKR 2,283

$8.51 LKR 2,850

-19.98%

Cappuccino

$2.37 LKR 795

$2.63 LKR 880

-9.89%

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

$0.87 LKR 291

$0.73 LKR 245

19.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 LKR 163

$0.38 LKR 126

28.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 LKR 712

$2.32 LKR 777

-8.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 LKR 986

$3.32 LKR 1,112

-11.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 LKR 661

$1.58 LKR 528

24.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 LKR 271

$0.56 LKR 189

44.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 LKR 241

$0.73 LKR 243

-1.37%

Eggs

$1.24 LKR 416

$2.11 LKR 706

-41.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.47 LKR 5,519

$14.22 LKR 4,765

15.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.97 LKR 2,335

$4.54 LKR 1,523

53.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.18 LKR 5,757

$8.20 LKR 2,747

109.51%

Apples (1kg)

$4.66 LKR 1,561

$7.41 LKR 2,482

-37.11%

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 LKR 259

$1.12 LKR 376

-31.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.78 LKR 1,601

$5.81 LKR 1,948

-17.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 354

$1.24 LKR 416

-14.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 377

$1.16 LKR 388

-3.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 LKR 501

$1.24 LKR 416

20.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 LKR 174

$1.15 LKR 386

-54.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 174

$0.55 LKR 186

-5.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.29 LKR 4,787

$10.07 LKR 3,373

41.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.44 LKR 4,169

$12.44 LKR 4,167

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 LKR 772

$2.10 LKR 705

9.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 LKR 1,076

$2.98 LKR 999

7.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 LKR 138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 139

$0.38 LKR 129

7.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 LKR 177

$0.35 LKR 118

51.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.35 LKR 116

$0.57 LKR 191

-38.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 LKR 360

$1.26 LKR 423

-14.29%

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

$21.8K LKR 7.3M

$26.3K LKR 8.8M

-16.94%

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

$21.3K LKR 7.1M

$34.2K LKR 11.4M

-37.60%

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

$59.4 LKR 19.9K

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

$2.26 LKR 756

$4.29 LKR 1,437

-47.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.88 LKR 2,641

$14.96 LKR 5,013

-47.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.10 LKR 3,384

Cinema Ticket

$2.71 LKR 909

$3.36 LKR 1,127

-19.35%

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

$37.47 LKR 12.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$445 LKR 149.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.60 LKR 3,887

$27.07 LKR 9,070

-57.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.24 LKR 2,762

$19.30 LKR 6,467

-57.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 LKR 31.5K

$69.5 LKR 23.3K

35.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.63 LKR 9,592

$39.20 LKR 13.1K

-26.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$82.1 LKR 27.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.3 LKR 19.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.4 LKR 31.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 LKR 56.9K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Ragama: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $10.00 in Ratnapura vs $25.00 in Ragama. Groceries flip the comparison at $281 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

Ratnapura and Ragama differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($534 vs $519 including rent). Ragama is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $801 in Ratnapura and $779 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 Ragama – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $10.00 in Ratnapura. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $534 per month in Ratnapura versus $519 in Ragama – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Ragama 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 Ragama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Ratnapura. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.