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: $531 in Ratnapura versus $534 in Ragama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $838 in Ratnapura versus $867 in Ragama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,145 in Ratnapura versus $1,201 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 60% lower, Ragama 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.21 LKR 744

$4.06 LKR 1,369

-45.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.19 LKR 3,434

$25.46 LKR 8,582

-59.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.55 LKR 2,206

$8.28 LKR 2,790

-20.89%

Cappuccino

$2.40 LKR 808

$2.76 LKR 929

-13.04%

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

$0.80 LKR 270

$0.73 LKR 247

9.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 175

$0.38 LKR 128

36.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 LKR 713

$2.38 LKR 802

-10.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 LKR 1,018

$3.44 LKR 1,161

-12.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 LKR 668

$1.63 LKR 551

21.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 LKR 279

$0.53 LKR 178

56.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 LKR 241

$0.75 LKR 254

-4.00%

Eggs

$1.19 LKR 403

$2.13 LKR 717

-44.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.56 LKR 5,580

$14.01 LKR 4,720

18.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.21 LKR 2,429

$4.60 LKR 1,550

56.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.39 LKR 5,859

$7.90 LKR 2,662

120.13%

Apples (1kg)

$4.59 LKR 1,548

$7.43 LKR 2,504

-38.22%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 LKR 262

$1.10 LKR 372

-29.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.74 LKR 1,599

$5.62 LKR 1,894

-15.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 LKR 365

$1.25 LKR 421

-13.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 LKR 393

$1.16 LKR 392

0.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 LKR 533

$1.19 LKR 400

32.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 LKR 178

$1.20 LKR 404

-55.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 161

$0.60 LKR 201

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 LKR 4,988

$10.10 LKR 3,403

46.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.63 LKR 4,257

$12.58 LKR 4,240

0.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 LKR 779

$2.02 LKR 682

14.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 LKR 1,078

$2.94 LKR 992

8.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 LKR 139

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 140

$0.41 LKR 138

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 LKR 176

$0.32 LKR 109

62.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.34 LKR 115

$0.56 LKR 189

-39.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 LKR 360

$1.21 LKR 407

-11.57%

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

$21.9K LKR 7.4M

$26.6K LKR 9.0M

-17.51%

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

$21.6K LKR 7.3M

$34.9K LKR 11.8M

-38.10%

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

$60.7 LKR 20.4K

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

$2.26 LKR 762

$4.27 LKR 1,438

-47.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.81 LKR 2,632

$15.07 LKR 5,079

-48.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.22 LKR 3,445

Cinema Ticket

$2.60 LKR 878

$3.38 LKR 1,138

-23.08%

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

$36.60 LKR 12.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$444 LKR 149.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.64 LKR 3,923

$27.18 LKR 9,159

-57.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.47 LKR 2,853

$19.47 LKR 6,561

-56.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.7 LKR 31.9K

$69.4 LKR 23.4K

36.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.23 LKR 9,514

$38.05 LKR 12.8K

-25.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$82.6 LKR 27.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.9 LKR 20.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.1 LKR 31.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 LKR 55.6K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Ragama: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $10.00 in Ratnapura vs $25.00 in Ragama. Groceries flip the comparison at $283 vs $253, 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 $797 in Ratnapura and $800 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.