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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Weligama costs about 42% more than Ratnapura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.01 LKR 1,277

$2.22 LKR 708

80.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.42 LKR 4,275

$10.12 LKR 3,225

32.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.92 LKR 1,885

$6.90 LKR 2,197

-14.20%

Cappuccino

$2.62 LKR 835

$2.32 LKR 739

12.93%

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

$0.68 LKR 216

$0.80 LKR 255

-15.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 128

$0.51 LKR 164

-21.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 LKR 749

$2.12 LKR 676

10.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 LKR 1,090

$3.04 LKR 969

12.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 LKR 544

$1.96 LKR 624

-12.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.34 LKR 108

$0.81 LKR 257

-58.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 280

$0.67 LKR 213

31.34%

Eggs

$2.22 LKR 708

$1.18 LKR 376

88.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 LKR 4,566

$16.59 LKR 5,285

-13.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.79 LKR 1,526

$7.00 LKR 2,229

-31.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.18 LKR 2,606

$17.62 LKR 5,614

-53.58%

Apples (1kg)

$7.54 LKR 2,401

$4.60 LKR 1,466

63.91%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 242

$0.78 LKR 248

-2.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.70 LKR 1,816

$4.56 LKR 1,454

25.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 402

$1.06 LKR 337

18.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 352

$1.11 LKR 353

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 LKR 155

$1.57 LKR 502

-68.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 383

$0.52 LKR 166

130.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 LKR 189

$0.48 LKR 152

22.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.94 LKR 3,166

$14.35 LKR 4,573

-30.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.34 LKR 3,932

$12.91 LKR 4,114

-4.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 LKR 647

$2.25 LKR 717

-9.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 LKR 916

$3.16 LKR 1,007

-8.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 LKR 121

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 132

$0.42 LKR 133

-2.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 113

$0.48 LKR 154

-27.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 181

$0.32 LKR 101

78.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 387

$1.04 LKR 330

16.35%

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

$27.2K LKR 8.7M

$21.5K LKR 6.8M

26.76%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.2M

$21.8K LKR 7.0M

61.19%

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

$59.8 LKR 19.0K

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

$3.43 LKR 1,091

$2.25 LKR 718

52.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.08 LKR 4,805

$7.87 LKR 2,508

91.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.92 LKR 3,162

Cinema Ticket

$3.31 LKR 1,053

$2.70 LKR 861

22.59%

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

$37.44 LKR 11.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$439 LKR 139.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.42 LKR 8,737

$11.55 LKR 3,678

137.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.28 LKR 6,143

$8.61 LKR 2,745

123.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.2 LKR 22.4K

$93.7 LKR 29.9K

-25.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.59 LKR 12.3K

$28.14 LKR 8,965

37.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$85.2 LKR 27.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$220 LKR 70.0K

$60.4 LKR 19.3K

263.47%

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 Weligama: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Weligama versus $10.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries tell a different story – $253 in Weligama vs $282 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 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 $1,111 per month in Weligama and $784 in Ratnapura. 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 $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 $740 in Weligama and $523 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.