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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $534 per month in Ratnapura vs $716 in Weligama, rent included.

A couple spends around $858 per month in Ratnapura vs $911 in Weligama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,183 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,106 in Weligama, rent included.

Ratnapura is about 25% cheaper than Weligama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ratnapura and Weligama are more affordable than the global median – Ratnapura 60% lower, Weligama 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.19 LKR 735

$3.92 LKR 1,315

-44.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.13 LKR 3,398

$13.33 LKR 4,474

-24.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.81 LKR 2,287

$5.77 LKR 1,937

18.02%

Cappuccino

$2.37 LKR 797

$2.64 LKR 884

-10.23%

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

$0.87 LKR 291

$0.74 LKR 248

17.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 LKR 164

$0.37 LKR 126

32.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 LKR 713

$2.37 LKR 796

-10.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 LKR 988

$3.38 LKR 1,133

-13.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 LKR 662

$1.68 LKR 564

17.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 LKR 271

$0.32 LKR 106

153.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 LKR 242

$0.85 LKR 285

-15.29%

Eggs

$1.24 LKR 417

$2.11 LKR 707

-41.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.47 LKR 5,527

$13.92 LKR 4,671

18.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.97 LKR 2,338

$4.54 LKR 1,523

53.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.18 LKR 5,766

$8.22 LKR 2,759

109.00%

Apples (1kg)

$4.66 LKR 1,563

$7.43 LKR 2,493

-37.28%

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 LKR 260

$0.75 LKR 252

2.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.78 LKR 1,603

$5.73 LKR 1,922

-16.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 355

$1.26 LKR 421

-15.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 377

$1.11 LKR 374

0.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 LKR 502

$0.48 LKR 162

212.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 LKR 174

$1.20 LKR 401

-56.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 175

$0.56 LKR 189

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.29 LKR 4,794

$10.25 LKR 3,439

39.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.44 LKR 4,175

$12.54 LKR 4,206

-0.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 LKR 773

$2.00 LKR 670

15.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 LKR 1,077

$2.97 LKR 996

8.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 LKR 138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 139

$0.39 LKR 131

5.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 LKR 177

$0.36 LKR 119

47.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.35 LKR 116

$0.58 LKR 193

-39.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 LKR 361

$1.24 LKR 417

-12.90%

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

$21.8K LKR 7.3M

$26.6K LKR 8.9M

-17.89%

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

$21.3K LKR 7.2M

$34.7K LKR 11.6M

-38.60%

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

$61.1 LKR 20.5K

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

$2.26 LKR 757

$3.27 LKR 1,099

-30.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.88 LKR 2,645

$15.27 LKR 5,123

-48.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.10 LKR 3,389

Cinema Ticket

$2.71 LKR 910

$3.40 LKR 1,141

-20.29%

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

$37.18 LKR 12.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$436 LKR 146.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.60 LKR 3,893

$27.89 LKR 9,360

-58.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.24 LKR 2,766

$19.45 LKR 6,527

-57.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 LKR 31.6K

$69.8 LKR 23.4K

34.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.63 LKR 9,606

$39.23 LKR 13.2K

-27.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$82.1 LKR 27.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.3 LKR 19.9K

$220 LKR 74.0K

-73.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.4 LKR 31.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 LKR 57.0K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Weligama: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $10.00 in Ratnapura versus $13.00 in Weligama. Groceries tell a different story – $281 in Ratnapura vs $249 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 34%, 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 $801 per month in Ratnapura and $1,074 in Weligama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Interestingly, groceries are about 13% 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 $534 in Ratnapura and $716 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.