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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $515 per month in Weligama vs $484 in Ratnapura, rent included.

A couple spends around $830 per month in Weligama vs $779 in Ratnapura, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,144 per month in Weligama vs $1,073 in Ratnapura, rent included.

Weligama costs about 6% more than Ratnapura, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Weligama and Ratnapura are more affordable than the global median – Weligama 62% lower, Ratnapura 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.29 LKR 1,420

$1.94 LKR 640

121.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.43 LKR 8,408

$9.13 LKR 3,019

178.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 LKR 2,501

$6.17 LKR 2,040

22.53%

Cappuccino

$2.52 LKR 833

$2.12 LKR 700

18.87%

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

$0.68 LKR 225

$0.74 LKR 244

-8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 LKR 89.5

$0.47 LKR 157

-42.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 LKR 756

$2.02 LKR 668

13.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 LKR 1,013

$2.71 LKR 896

12.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 LKR 537

$1.81 LKR 600

-10.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 LKR 188

$0.77 LKR 256

-25.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 267

$0.61 LKR 203

32.79%

Eggs

$1.65 LKR 545

$1.08 LKR 357

52.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.04 LKR 4,313

$15.01 LKR 4,963

-13.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 LKR 1,694

$6.31 LKR 2,086

-18.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.07 LKR 2,337

$15.81 LKR 5,229

-55.28%

Apples (1kg)

$6.81 LKR 2,251

$4.40 LKR 1,454

54.77%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 292

$0.76 LKR 251

15.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.29 LKR 1,417

$4.26 LKR 1,407

0.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.23 LKR 406

$1.00 LKR 332

23.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 LKR 327

$1.06 LKR 352

-6.60%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 264

$1.44 LKR 477

-44.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 LKR 290

$0.48 LKR 158

83.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 LKR 162

$0.48 LKR 158

2.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.20 LKR 3,374

$13.12 LKR 4,339

-22.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.53 LKR 4,473

$12.76 LKR 4,219

6.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 LKR 652

$2.04 LKR 676

-3.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 LKR 961

$2.93 LKR 968

-0.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 LKR 117

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 139

$0.38 LKR 127

10.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 115

$0.47 LKR 156

-25.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 LKR 305

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 LKR 446

$0.97 LKR 321

39.18%

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

$37.2K LKR 12.3M

$19.9K LKR 6.6M

86.42%

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

$40.8K LKR 13.5M

$19.8K LKR 6.6M

105.50%

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

$55.6 LKR 18.4K

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

$4.10 LKR 1,356

$2.13 LKR 704

92.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.14 LKR 6,990

$7.40 LKR 2,448

185.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.04 LKR 2,988

Cinema Ticket

$4.49 LKR 1,484

$2.39 LKR 791

87.87%

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

$38.14 LKR 12.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,218 LKR 402.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.94 LKR 6,592

$10.50 LKR 3,472

89.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.77 LKR 5,544

$7.79 LKR 2,577

115.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.7 LKR 26.0K

$84.8 LKR 28.0K

-7.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.64 LKR 13.8K

$25.60 LKR 8,463

62.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.8 LKR 25.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$53.8 LKR 17.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.0 LKR 28.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 LKR 55.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

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

Last update for Weligama: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Weligama versus $9.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Weligama vs $261 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 6%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $773 per month in Weligama and $726 in Ratnapura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% 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 $25.00 in Weligama and $9.00 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 $515 in Weligama and $484 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.