Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Ratnapura Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Ratnapura

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,247 per month in Tbilisi vs $484 in Ratnapura, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,025 per month in Tbilisi vs $779 in Ratnapura, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,803 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,073 in Ratnapura, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 158% more than Ratnapura, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Ratnapura are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Ratnapura 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.45

$1.94 LKR 641

484.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

$9.13 LKR 3,023

323.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.73

$6.17 LKR 2,043

54.29%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

$2.12 LKR 701

60.85%

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

$1.04 ₾2.71

$0.74 LKR 244

40.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

$0.47 LKR 157

36.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.79

$2.02 LKR 669

29.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

$2.71 LKR 898

19.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

$1.81 LKR 601

19.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

$0.77 LKR 256

-3.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

$0.61 LKR 203

180.33%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

$1.08 LKR 358

162.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.95

$15.01 LKR 4,969

-38.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.55

$6.31 LKR 2,089

7.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.17

$15.81 LKR 5,236

-19.23%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$4.40 LKR 1,456

-62.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

$0.76 LKR 252

132.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

$4.26 LKR 1,409

-56.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.34

$1.00 LKR 333

144.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

$1.06 LKR 352

-17.92%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$1.44 LKR 477

-54.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.64

$0.48 LKR 158

191.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$0.48 LKR 158

54.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

$13.12 LKR 4,345

-74.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.75

$12.76 LKR 4,225

-40.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

$2.04 LKR 677

-16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.20

$2.93 LKR 969

-18.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

$0.35 LKR 117

2.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.24 ₾39.60

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₾3.07

$0.38 LKR 127

210.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

$0.47 LKR 157

61.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.47

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

$0.97 LKR 322

37.11%

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

$24.7K ₾64.2K

$19.9K LKR 6.6M

23.98%

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

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$19.8K LKR 6.6M

11.07%

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

$88.9 ₾231

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

$13.33 ₾34.63

$2.13 LKR 705

525.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

$7.40 LKR 2,452

171.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

$9.04 LKR 2,991

659.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾47.01

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.46

$2.39 LKR 792

181.17%

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

$374 ₾971

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

$10.50 LKR 3,476

863.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

$7.79 LKR 2,580

404.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

$84.8 LKR 28.1K

38.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$25.60 LKR 8,475

377.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,773

$75.8 LKR 25.1K

800.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

$53.8 LKR 17.8K

748.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₾3,385

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,337

$87.0 LKR 28.8K

933.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,365

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,774

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,695

$168 LKR 55.5K

289.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $75.8 in Ratnapura. 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 289% higher in Tbilisi, 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 $39.00 in Tbilisi versus $9.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries tell a different story – $232 in Tbilisi vs $261 in Ratnapura – so Tbilisi 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

Tbilisi vs Ratnapura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 158%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,870 per month in Tbilisi and $726 in Ratnapura. 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 12% cheaper in Tbilisi – 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 $39.00 in Tbilisi and $9.00 in Ratnapura. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ratnapura, where all-in costs run around $484, than in Tbilisi at $1,247. In Ratnapura it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.