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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $739 per month in Weligama vs $531 in Ratnapura, rent included.

A couple spends around $922 per month in Weligama vs $838 in Ratnapura, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,105 per month in Weligama vs $1,145 in Ratnapura, rent included.

Weligama costs about 39% more than Ratnapura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.06 LKR 1,353

$2.21 LKR 737

83.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.40 LKR 4,470

$10.19 LKR 3,399

31.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.01 LKR 2,004

$6.55 LKR 2,184

-8.24%

Cappuccino

$2.73 LKR 910

$2.40 LKR 800

13.75%

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

$0.72 LKR 240

$0.80 LKR 267

-10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 134

$0.52 LKR 173

-23.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 LKR 798

$2.12 LKR 706

12.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 LKR 1,129

$3.02 LKR 1,008

11.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 LKR 561

$1.98 LKR 661

-15.15%

White Bread (500g)

$0.34 LKR 114

$0.83 LKR 277

-59.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 275

$0.72 LKR 239

15.28%

Eggs

$2.15 LKR 716

$1.19 LKR 399

80.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.21 LKR 4,740

$16.56 LKR 5,523

-14.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.56 LKR 1,523

$7.21 LKR 2,404

-36.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.26 LKR 2,755

$17.39 LKR 5,799

-52.50%

Apples (1kg)

$7.47 LKR 2,490

$4.59 LKR 1,532

62.75%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 LKR 260

$0.78 LKR 259

Oranges (1kg)

$5.75 LKR 1,916

$4.74 LKR 1,583

21.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 LKR 400

$1.08 LKR 361

11.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 369

$1.17 LKR 389

-5.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 LKR 153

$1.58 LKR 528

-70.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 LKR 384

$0.53 LKR 176

116.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 189

$0.48 LKR 159

18.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.88 LKR 3,294

$14.80 LKR 4,936

-33.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.66 LKR 4,225

$12.63 LKR 4,214

0.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 LKR 691

$2.31 LKR 771

-10.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 LKR 958

$3.20 LKR 1,067

-10.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 LKR 137

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 130

$0.41 LKR 138

-4.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 119

$0.52 LKR 175

-30.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 191

$0.34 LKR 114

67.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 LKR 422

$1.07 LKR 356

18.69%

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

$27.0K LKR 9.0M

$21.9K LKR 7.3M

23.21%

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

$34.8K LKR 11.6M

$21.6K LKR 7.2M

61.12%

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

$59.5 LKR 19.8K

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

$3.26 LKR 1,089

$2.26 LKR 754

44.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.36 LKR 5,123

$7.81 LKR 2,605

96.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.22 LKR 3,410

Cinema Ticket

$3.43 LKR 1,143

$2.60 LKR 869

31.92%

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

$37.22 LKR 12.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$448 LKR 149.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.10 LKR 9,373

$11.64 LKR 3,883

141.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.66 LKR 6,556

$8.47 LKR 2,824

132.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.6 LKR 23.2K

$94.7 LKR 31.6K

-26.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.04 LKR 13.0K

$28.23 LKR 9,416

38.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$82.6 LKR 27.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$219 LKR 73.1K

$59.9 LKR 20.0K

265.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.1 LKR 31.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 LKR 55.0K

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Weligama versus $10.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries tell a different story – $250 in Weligama vs $283 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 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 $1,109 per month in Weligama and $797 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 $739 in Weligama and $531 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.