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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Weligama costs about 34% more than Ratnapura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.92 LKR 1,315

$2.19 LKR 735

79.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.33 LKR 4,474

$10.13 LKR 3,398

31.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.77 LKR 1,937

$6.81 LKR 2,287

-15.27%

Cappuccino

$2.64 LKR 884

$2.37 LKR 797

11.39%

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

$0.74 LKR 248

$0.87 LKR 291

-14.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 LKR 126

$0.49 LKR 164

-24.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 LKR 796

$2.12 LKR 713

11.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 LKR 1,133

$2.94 LKR 988

14.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 LKR 564

$1.97 LKR 662

-14.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.32 LKR 106

$0.81 LKR 271

-60.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 LKR 285

$0.72 LKR 242

18.06%

Eggs

$2.11 LKR 707

$1.24 LKR 417

70.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.92 LKR 4,671

$16.47 LKR 5,527

-15.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.54 LKR 1,523

$6.97 LKR 2,338

-34.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.22 LKR 2,759

$17.18 LKR 5,766

-52.15%

Apples (1kg)

$7.43 LKR 2,493

$4.66 LKR 1,563

59.44%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 LKR 252

$0.77 LKR 260

-2.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.73 LKR 1,922

$4.78 LKR 1,603

19.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 421

$1.06 LKR 355

18.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 374

$1.12 LKR 377

-0.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 LKR 162

$1.50 LKR 502

-68.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 401

$0.52 LKR 174

130.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 189

$0.52 LKR 175

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.25 LKR 3,439

$14.29 LKR 4,794

-28.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.54 LKR 4,206

$12.44 LKR 4,175

0.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 LKR 670

$2.30 LKR 773

-13.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 996

$3.21 LKR 1,077

-7.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 LKR 138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 131

$0.41 LKR 139

-4.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 119

$0.53 LKR 177

-32.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 193

$0.35 LKR 116

65.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 LKR 417

$1.08 LKR 361

14.81%

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

$26.6K LKR 8.9M

$21.8K LKR 7.3M

21.79%

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

$34.7K LKR 11.6M

$21.3K LKR 7.2M

62.87%

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)

$3.27 LKR 1,099

$2.26 LKR 757

44.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.27 LKR 5,123

$7.88 LKR 2,645

93.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.10 LKR 3,389

Cinema Ticket

$3.40 LKR 1,141

$2.71 LKR 910

25.46%

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)

$27.89 LKR 9,360

$11.60 LKR 3,893

140.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.45 LKR 6,527

$8.24 LKR 2,766

136.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 LKR 23.4K

$94.1 LKR 31.6K

-25.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.23 LKR 13.2K

$28.63 LKR 9,606

37.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$82.1 LKR 27.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$220 LKR 74.0K

$59.3 LKR 19.9K

271.46%

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 Weligama: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Weligama versus $10.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Weligama vs $281 in Ratnapura – 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

Weligama vs Ratnapura: 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 $1,074 per month in Weligama and $801 in Ratnapura. 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 $13.00 in Weligama and $10.00 in Ratnapura. 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 $716 in Weligama and $534 in Ratnapura, 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.