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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $528 per month in Ratnapura vs $734 in Weligama, rent included.

A couple spends around $837 per month in Ratnapura vs $919 in Weligama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,146 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,104 in Weligama, rent included.

Ratnapura is about 28% cheaper than Weligama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ratnapura and Weligama are more affordable than the global median – Ratnapura 60% lower, Weligama 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 LKR 704

$4.11 LKR 1,370

-48.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.98 LKR 3,323

$13.47 LKR 4,487

-25.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 LKR 2,277

$6.01 LKR 2,002

13.81%

Cappuccino

$2.32 LKR 773

$2.62 LKR 872

-11.45%

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

$0.86 LKR 288

$0.69 LKR 231

24.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 161

$0.37 LKR 124

29.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 LKR 748

$2.37 LKR 790

-5.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 LKR 979

$3.28 LKR 1,091

-10.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 LKR 687

$1.66 LKR 552

24.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 LKR 268

$0.32 LKR 106

150.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.69 LKR 228

$0.83 LKR 276

-16.87%

Eggs

$1.23 LKR 410

$2.16 LKR 718

-43.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.64 LKR 5,541

$14.21 LKR 4,732

17.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.04 LKR 2,346

$4.79 LKR 1,596

46.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.63 LKR 5,871

$8.11 LKR 2,699

117.39%

Apples (1kg)

$4.65 LKR 1,549

$7.69 LKR 2,561

-39.53%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 255

$0.80 LKR 266

-5.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 LKR 1,555

$5.78 LKR 1,923

-19.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 LKR 347

$1.25 LKR 416

-16.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 LKR 376

$1.16 LKR 385

-2.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 LKR 523

$0.48 LKR 160

227.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 LKR 175

$1.16 LKR 386

-54.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 173

$0.57 LKR 189

-8.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.59 LKR 4,860

$9.98 LKR 3,325

46.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.75 LKR 4,247

$13.01 LKR 4,333

-2.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 LKR 780

$2.09 LKR 697

11.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 LKR 1,051

$2.83 LKR 941

11.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 LKR 127

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 128

$0.41 LKR 137

-4.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 LKR 161

$0.32 LKR 108

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.32 LKR 106

$0.60 LKR 200

-46.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 LKR 345

$1.26 LKR 420

-17.46%

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

$21.3K LKR 7.1M

$27.3K LKR 9.1M

-21.73%

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

$21.9K LKR 7.3M

$35.0K LKR 11.6M

-37.45%

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

$59.9 LKR 19.9K

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

$2.33 LKR 776

$3.41 LKR 1,135

-31.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.24 LKR 2,744

$15.18 LKR 5,054

-45.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.19 LKR 3,394

Cinema Ticket

$2.72 LKR 907

$3.36 LKR 1,120

-19.05%

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

$36.70 LKR 12.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$446 LKR 148.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.57 LKR 3,851

$28.03 LKR 9,336

-58.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.57 LKR 2,853

$19.02 LKR 6,335

-54.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 LKR 30.8K

$69.7 LKR 23.2K

32.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.02 LKR 9,664

$39.38 LKR 13.1K

-26.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$83.0 LKR 27.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.3 LKR 19.8K

$215 LKR 71.7K

-72.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.1 LKR 31.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 LKR 55.9K

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 13, 2026

Last update for Weligama: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $10.00 in Ratnapura versus $13.00 in Weligama. Groceries tell a different story – $285 in Ratnapura vs $253 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 39%, 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 $792 per month in Ratnapura and $1,101 in Weligama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% 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 $10.00 in Ratnapura and $13.00 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 $528 in Ratnapura and $734 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.