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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $523 per month in Ratnapura vs $740 in Weligama, rent included.

A couple spends around $854 per month in Ratnapura vs $926 in Weligama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,185 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,111 in Weligama, rent included.

Ratnapura is about 29% cheaper than Weligama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.22 LKR 709

$4.01 LKR 1,279

-44.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.12 LKR 3,228

$13.42 LKR 4,279

-24.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.90 LKR 2,199

$5.92 LKR 1,886

16.55%

Cappuccino

$2.32 LKR 739

$2.62 LKR 835

-11.45%

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

$0.80 LKR 255

$0.68 LKR 216

17.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 LKR 164

$0.40 LKR 128

27.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 LKR 677

$2.35 LKR 750

-9.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 LKR 970

$3.42 LKR 1,091

-11.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 LKR 624

$1.71 LKR 545

14.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 LKR 257

$0.34 LKR 108

138.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.67 LKR 213

$0.88 LKR 280

-23.86%

Eggs

$1.18 LKR 376

$2.22 LKR 709

-46.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.59 LKR 5,290

$14.33 LKR 4,570

15.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.00 LKR 2,231

$4.79 LKR 1,527

46.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.62 LKR 5,619

$8.18 LKR 2,608

115.40%

Apples (1kg)

$4.60 LKR 1,467

$7.54 LKR 2,404

-38.99%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 LKR 248

$0.76 LKR 242

2.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.56 LKR 1,455

$5.70 LKR 1,818

-20.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 338

$1.26 LKR 403

-15.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 353

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 LKR 502

$0.49 LKR 155

220.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 LKR 166

$1.20 LKR 383

-56.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 152

$0.59 LKR 190

-18.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.35 LKR 4,578

$9.94 LKR 3,169

44.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.91 LKR 4,118

$12.34 LKR 3,936

4.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 LKR 718

$2.03 LKR 648

10.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 LKR 1,008

$2.88 LKR 917

9.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 LKR 121

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 133

$0.41 LKR 132

2.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 LKR 155

$0.35 LKR 113

37.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.32 LKR 101

$0.57 LKR 181

-43.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 LKR 330

$1.21 LKR 387

-14.05%

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

$21.5K LKR 6.8M

$27.2K LKR 8.7M

-21.11%

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

$21.8K LKR 7.0M

$35.2K LKR 11.2M

-37.96%

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

$59.8 LKR 19.1K

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

$2.25 LKR 719

$3.43 LKR 1,092

-34.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.87 LKR 2,511

$15.08 LKR 4,810

-47.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.92 LKR 3,165

Cinema Ticket

$2.70 LKR 862

$3.31 LKR 1,054

-18.43%

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

$37.44 LKR 11.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$439 LKR 140.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.55 LKR 3,682

$27.42 LKR 8,745

-57.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.61 LKR 2,747

$19.28 LKR 6,148

-55.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.7 LKR 29.9K

$70.2 LKR 22.4K

33.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.14 LKR 8,973

$38.59 LKR 12.3K

-27.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$85.2 LKR 27.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$60.4 LKR 19.3K

$220 LKR 70.0K

-72.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.6 LKR 29.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$174 LKR 55.3K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Weligama: April 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 – $282 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 42%, 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 $784 per month in Ratnapura and $1,111 in Weligama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Interestingly, groceries are about 11% 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 $523 in Ratnapura and $740 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.