Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $475 per month in Ratnapura vs $718 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, rent included.

A couple spends around $767 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,086 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,059 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,454 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, rent included.

Ratnapura is about 34% cheaper than Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ratnapura and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte are more affordable than the global median – Ratnapura 65% lower, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.02 LKR 662

$4.35 LKR 1,427

-53.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.93 LKR 2,930

$24.79 LKR 8,133

-63.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.99 LKR 1,965

$7.54 LKR 2,473

-20.56%

Cappuccino

$2.08 LKR 683

$2.51 LKR 823

-17.13%

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

$0.75 LKR 246

$0.68 LKR 224

10.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 LKR 144

$0.25 LKR 81.4

76.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 LKR 632

$2.19 LKR 720

-11.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 LKR 877

$3.10 LKR 1,018

-13.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 LKR 614

$1.31 LKR 430

42.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 LKR 245

$0.57 LKR 186

31.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.65 LKR 214

$0.69 LKR 227

-5.80%

Eggs

$1.08 LKR 353

$1.60 LKR 524

-32.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.76 LKR 4,842

$13.31 LKR 4,368

10.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 LKR 2,082

$4.38 LKR 1,438

44.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.97 LKR 5,239

$5.31 LKR 1,742

200.75%

Apples (1kg)

$4.23 LKR 1,389

$6.25 LKR 2,050

-32.32%

Banana (1kg)

$0.74 LKR 244

$0.88 LKR 288

-15.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 LKR 1,368

$4.31 LKR 1,415

-3.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.95 LKR 312

$1.19 LKR 390

-20.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 LKR 334

$0.93 LKR 306

9.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 465

$0.75 LKR 246

89.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 LKR 166

$0.89 LKR 293

-42.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 156

$0.49 LKR 160

-2.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.94 LKR 4,244

$9.19 LKR 3,017

40.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.84 LKR 4,213

$12.48 LKR 4,093

2.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 LKR 695

$1.92 LKR 630

10.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 LKR 955

$2.81 LKR 923

3.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 LKR 123

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.37 LKR 122

$0.31 LKR 102

19.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 LKR 157

$0.37 LKR 122

29.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 LKR 290

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 LKR 300

$1.16 LKR 379

-21.55%

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

$19.6K LKR 6.4M

$30.9K LKR 10.1M

-36.64%

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

$20.0K LKR 6.6M

$42.0K LKR 13.8M

-52.25%

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

$45.15 LKR 14.8K

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

$2.08 LKR 681

$4.29 LKR 1,408

-51.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.50 LKR 2,460

$12.22 LKR 4,009

-38.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.26 LKR 3,037

$14.98 LKR 4,915

-38.18%

Cinema Ticket

$2.44 LKR 802

$3.10 LKR 1,017

-21.29%

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

$38.65 LKR 12.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$896 LKR 293.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.55 LKR 3,461

$19.93 LKR 6,540

-47.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.50 LKR 2,460

$16.57 LKR 5,438

-54.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.4 LKR 27.7K

$78.7 LKR 25.8K

7.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.38 LKR 8,326

$41.75 LKR 13.7K

-39.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.7 LKR 25.2K

$307 LKR 100.8K

-75.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$54.7 LKR 17.9K

$228 LKR 74.8K

-76.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 LKR 146.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$84.6 LKR 27.7K

$385 LKR 126.5K

-78.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$671 LKR 220.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$542 LKR 177.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 LKR 55.8K

$309 LKR 101.4K

-44.95%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $76.7 in Ratnapura versus $307 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 82% higher in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Ratnapura versus $25.00 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Groceries tell a different story – $260 in Ratnapura vs $219 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte – so Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $713 per month in Ratnapura and $1,077 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ratnapura, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 18% cheaper in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Ratnapura and $25.00 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $475 in Ratnapura and $718 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Ratnapura – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ratnapura. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.