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 $517 per month in Ratnapura vs $754 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, rent included.

A couple spends around $833 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,171 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,149 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,588 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, rent included.

Ratnapura is about 31% 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 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.23 LKR 748

$4.00 LKR 1,345

-44.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.02 LKR 3,367

$25.03 LKR 8,411

-59.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.80 LKR 2,285

$8.14 LKR 2,737

-16.46%

Cappuccino

$2.35 LKR 791

$2.71 LKR 910

-13.28%

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

$0.82 LKR 274

$0.74 LKR 250

10.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 174

$0.38 LKR 127

36.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 LKR 749

$2.41 LKR 809

-7.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 LKR 1,039

$3.39 LKR 1,138

-8.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 LKR 686

$1.49 LKR 499

36.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 LKR 271

$0.53 LKR 177

52.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.67 LKR 226

$0.86 LKR 289

-22.09%

Eggs

$1.19 LKR 401

$2.11 LKR 709

-43.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.66 LKR 5,599

$10.41 LKR 3,497

60.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.14 LKR 2,401

$4.58 LKR 1,540

55.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.18 LKR 5,774

$5.87 LKR 1,972

192.67%

Apples (1kg)

$4.66 LKR 1,564

$6.42 LKR 2,156

-27.41%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 276

$1.11 LKR 373

-26.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.65 LKR 1,564

$5.80 LKR 1,950

-19.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 LKR 363

$1.19 LKR 401

-9.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 LKR 392

$0.95 LKR 319

23.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 LKR 525

$0.91 LKR 304

71.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 LKR 189

$1.19 LKR 400

-52.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 162

$0.53 LKR 178

-9.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.66 LKR 4,927

$8.59 LKR 2,886

70.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.44 LKR 4,181

$12.53 LKR 4,212

-0.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 LKR 779

$1.52 LKR 512

52.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 LKR 1,053

$1.79 LKR 601

74.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 LKR 141

$0.34 LKR 115

23.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.23 LKR 3,439

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 129

$0.32 LKR 106

18.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 LKR 178

$0.32 LKR 109

65.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.32 LKR 106

$0.47 LKR 157

-31.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 LKR 357

$1.21 LKR 406

-12.40%

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

$21.7K LKR 7.3M

$26.7K LKR 9.0M

-18.79%

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

$21.4K LKR 7.2M

$34.5K LKR 11.6M

-38.07%

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

$30.12 LKR 10.1K

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

$2.25 LKR 755

$4.42 LKR 1,486

-49.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.23 LKR 2,767

$14.96 LKR 5,028

-44.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.99 LKR 3,356

$20.63 LKR 6,933

-51.58%

Cinema Ticket

$2.61 LKR 876

$3.33 LKR 1,120

-21.62%

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

$37.30 LKR 12.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$436 LKR 146.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.53 LKR 3,874

$27.06 LKR 9,093

-57.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.41 LKR 2,825

$19.44 LKR 6,533

-56.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.5 LKR 32.1K

$68.9 LKR 23.2K

38.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.66 LKR 9,630

$38.41 LKR 12.9K

-25.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$82.8 LKR 27.8K

$341 LKR 114.6K

-75.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$61.4 LKR 20.6K

$254 LKR 85.4K

-75.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$501 LKR 168.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.9 LKR 31.2K

$424 LKR 142.5K

-78.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$671 LKR 225.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$512 LKR 172.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 LKR 55.5K

$303 LKR 101.8K

-45.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Ratnapura: July 14, 2026

Last update for Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $82.8 in Ratnapura versus $341 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 83% 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 – $283 in Ratnapura vs $224 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 46%, 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 $776 per month in Ratnapura and $1,132 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 26% 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 $517 in Ratnapura and $754 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.