Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Weligama Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Weligama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $484 per month in Ratnapura vs $515 in Weligama, rent included.

A couple spends around $779 per month in Ratnapura vs $830 in Weligama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,073 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,144 in Weligama, rent included.

Ratnapura is about 6% cheaper than Weligama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ratnapura and Weligama are more affordable than the global median – Ratnapura 65% lower, Weligama 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 LKR 640

$4.29 LKR 1,420

-54.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.13 LKR 3,019

$25.43 LKR 8,408

-64.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.17 LKR 2,040

$7.56 LKR 2,501

-18.39%

Cappuccino

$2.12 LKR 700

$2.52 LKR 833

-15.87%

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

$0.74 LKR 244

$0.68 LKR 225

8.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 LKR 157

$0.27 LKR 89.5

74.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 LKR 668

$2.29 LKR 756

-11.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 LKR 896

$3.06 LKR 1,013

-11.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 LKR 600

$1.62 LKR 537

11.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 LKR 256

$0.57 LKR 188

35.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.61 LKR 203

$0.81 LKR 267

-24.69%

Eggs

$1.08 LKR 357

$1.65 LKR 545

-34.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.01 LKR 4,963

$13.04 LKR 4,313

15.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.31 LKR 2,086

$5.12 LKR 1,694

23.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.81 LKR 5,229

$7.07 LKR 2,337

123.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.40 LKR 1,454

$6.81 LKR 2,251

-35.39%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 251

$0.88 LKR 292

-13.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.26 LKR 1,407

$4.29 LKR 1,417

-0.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 LKR 332

$1.23 LKR 406

-18.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 352

$0.99 LKR 327

7.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 LKR 477

$0.80 LKR 264

80.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 LKR 158

$0.88 LKR 290

-45.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 158

$0.49 LKR 162

-2.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.12 LKR 4,339

$10.20 LKR 3,374

28.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.76 LKR 4,219

$13.53 LKR 4,473

-5.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 LKR 676

$1.97 LKR 652

3.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 LKR 968

$2.91 LKR 961

0.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 LKR 117

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 127

$0.42 LKR 139

-9.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 LKR 156

$0.35 LKR 115

34.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 LKR 305

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 LKR 321

$1.35 LKR 446

-28.15%

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

$19.9K LKR 6.6M

$37.2K LKR 12.3M

-46.36%

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

$19.8K LKR 6.6M

$40.8K LKR 13.5M

-51.34%

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

$55.6 LKR 18.4K

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

$2.13 LKR 704

$4.10 LKR 1,356

-48.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.40 LKR 2,448

$21.14 LKR 6,990

-65.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.04 LKR 2,988

Cinema Ticket

$2.39 LKR 791

$4.49 LKR 1,484

-46.77%

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

$38.14 LKR 12.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,218 LKR 402.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.50 LKR 3,472

$19.94 LKR 6,592

-47.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.79 LKR 2,577

$16.77 LKR 5,544

-53.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 LKR 28.0K

$78.7 LKR 26.0K

7.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.60 LKR 8,463

$41.64 LKR 13.8K

-38.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.8 LKR 25.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$53.8 LKR 17.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.0 LKR 28.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 LKR 55.4K

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: September 12, 2026

Last update for Weligama: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Ratnapura versus $25.00 in Weligama. Groceries tell a different story – $261 in Ratnapura vs $237 in Weligama – so Weligama 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 Weligama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Weligama is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $726 per month in Ratnapura and $773 in Weligama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Weligama – 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 Weligama. 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 $484 in Ratnapura and $515 in Weligama, 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, Weligama makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.