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 $520 per month in Ratnapura vs $734 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, rent included.

A couple spends around $847 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,153 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,173 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,572 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, rent included.

Ratnapura is about 29% cheaper than Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ratnapura and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte are more affordable than the global median – Ratnapura 61% lower, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.21 LKR 737

$4.12 LKR 1,375

-46.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.89 LKR 3,299

$24.76 LKR 8,258

-60.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.73 LKR 2,243

$8.48 LKR 2,828

-20.64%

Cappuccino

$2.39 LKR 796

$2.67 LKR 889

-10.49%

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

$0.82 LKR 274

$0.75 LKR 249

9.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 173

$0.38 LKR 126

36.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 LKR 733

$2.28 LKR 762

-3.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 991

$3.29 LKR 1,098

-9.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 LKR 656

$1.50 LKR 499

31.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.86 LKR 286

$0.53 LKR 176

62.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 LKR 241

$0.85 LKR 285

-15.29%

Eggs

$1.17 LKR 392

$2.13 LKR 709

-45.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.64 LKR 5,550

$10.28 LKR 3,429

61.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.84 LKR 2,281

$4.55 LKR 1,516

50.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.39 LKR 5,798

$5.85 LKR 1,951

197.26%

Apples (1kg)

$4.71 LKR 1,571

$6.17 LKR 2,058

-23.66%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 273

$1.11 LKR 370

-26.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 LKR 1,557

$5.71 LKR 1,905

-18.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 LKR 364

$1.25 LKR 417

-12.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 387

$1.01 LKR 336

14.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 LKR 501

$0.93 LKR 310

61.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 LKR 186

$1.14 LKR 382

-50.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 173

$0.50 LKR 166

4.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.71 LKR 4,904

$8.46 LKR 2,821

73.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.45 LKR 4,153

$12.57 LKR 4,191

-0.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 LKR 742

$1.47 LKR 489

51.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 LKR 1,040

$1.81 LKR 604

72.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 LKR 138

$0.32 LKR 106

28.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.23 LKR 3,412

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 130

$0.34 LKR 115

14.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 LKR 177

$0.35 LKR 117

51.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.34 LKR 114

$0.44 LKR 145

-22.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 LKR 356

$1.27 LKR 422

-15.75%

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

$22.1K LKR 7.4M

$27.2K LKR 9.1M

-18.90%

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

$21.3K LKR 7.1M

$34.4K LKR 11.5M

-38.08%

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

$30.64 LKR 10.2K

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

$2.33 LKR 778

$4.22 LKR 1,407

-44.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.13 LKR 2,712

$14.91 LKR 4,972

-45.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.18 LKR 3,396

$21.06 LKR 7,024

-51.66%

Cinema Ticket

$2.66 LKR 889

$3.42 LKR 1,142

-22.22%

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

$36.74 LKR 12.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$433 LKR 144.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.76 LKR 3,923

$28.02 LKR 9,344

-58.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.56 LKR 2,855

$19.05 LKR 6,354

-55.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.5 LKR 31.2K

$69.0 LKR 23.0K

35.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.55 LKR 9,521

$38.31 LKR 12.8K

-25.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$85.0 LKR 28.3K

$335 LKR 111.7K

-74.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.4 LKR 19.8K

$254 LKR 84.6K

-76.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$512 LKR 170.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.3 LKR 30.8K

$418 LKR 139.3K

-77.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$686 LKR 228.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$528 LKR 176.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 LKR 57.3K

$303 LKR 100.9K

-43.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Ratnapura: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $85.0 in Ratnapura versus $335 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 76% 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 $10.00 in Ratnapura versus $25.00 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Groceries tell a different story – $282 in Ratnapura vs $221 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 41%, 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 $780 per month in Ratnapura and $1,100 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 27% 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 $10.00 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 $520 in Ratnapura and $734 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.