Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Puttalam

For one person, living is cheaper in Puttalam: $62.8 a month against $1,187 in Bali, rent and utilities included – about $13,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bali, Indonesia
Puttalam, Sri Lanka
Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,187
/mo nomad
Puttalam
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
$62.8
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bali and in Puttalam

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bali and in Puttalam actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,187 per month in Bali vs $63 in Puttalam, rent included.

  • Bali $1,187
  • Puttalam $63

A couple spends around $2,004 per month in Bali vs $109 in Puttalam, rent included.

  • Bali $2,004
  • Puttalam $109

A family of three spends $2,822 per month in Bali vs $156 in Puttalam, rent included.

  • Bali $2,822
  • Puttalam $156

Bali costs about 1789% more than Puttalam, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Bali and Puttalam are more affordable than the global median – Bali 12% lower, Puttalam 95% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Puttalam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.80 Rp 50.6K
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.85 Rp 520.8K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.76 Rp 86.0K
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.23 Rp 40.3K
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 Rp 23.4K
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 Rp 10.2K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 Rp 40.3K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 Rp 64.1K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Puttalam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 Rp 25.4K
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.18 Rp 39.4K
$0.49 LKR 162
344.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.05 Rp 18.9K
$0.76 LKR 254
38.16%
Eggs
$1.92 Rp 34.7K
$1.28 LKR 424
50.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.84 Rp 267.9K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.86 Rp 69.7K
$3.67 LKR 1,221
5.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.69 Rp 192.9K
$7.55 LKR 2,510
41.59%
Apples (1kg)
$3.34 Rp 60.2K
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 Rp 26.4K
$0.77 LKR 255
89.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 Rp 40.1K
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 Rp 32.6K
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.2K
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 Rp 16.5K
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 Rp 8,308
$0.35 LKR 116
31.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.06 Rp 37.1K
$7.27 LKR 2,418
-71.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.38 Rp 367.8K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 Rp 39.1K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 Rp 51.4K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Puttalam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,531
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.68 Rp 156.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,956
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,766
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.38 Rp 97.2K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.3K
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K Rp 428.5M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K Rp 592.9M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Puttalam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.33 Rp 114.2K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.93 Rp 341.6K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Puttalam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.65 Rp 751.7K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.78 Rp 266.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.58 Rp 64.6K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Puttalam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$437 Rp 7.9M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K Rp 199.2M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Puttalam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.09 Rp 777.7K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.51 Rp 604.8K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 Rp 1.4M
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.9 Rp 1.3M
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Puttalam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$957 Rp 17.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$570 Rp 10.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,028 Rp 54.6M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,446 Rp 26.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,096 Rp 37.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,885 Rp 34.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Puttalam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$215 Rp 3.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
0
-

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

Last update for Bali: October 31, 2026

Last update for Puttalam: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bali
$570
Puttalam
–
Groceries & Markets
Bali
$263
Puttalam
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
$102
Puttalam
–
Clothing & Footwear
Bali
$101
Puttalam
–
Eating Out
Bali
$89
Puttalam
–
Sport & Entertainment
Bali
$49
Puttalam
–
Getting Around
Bali
$12
Puttalam
–
Good to know
🇮🇩 Bali
🇱🇰 Puttalam
🕒 Local time
18:03 6:03 PM
15:33 3:33 PM
2 h 30 min behind Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
45,400
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

LKR, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18,049 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.54 USD). 1 EUR = 20,271 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.93 EUR).

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 333 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD). 1 EUR = 373 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.68 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bali Puttalam 4,330 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bali
  • Puttalam

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Bali vs Puttalam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bali or Puttalam?
Bali costs about 1789% more than Puttalam, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bali and in Puttalam?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,780 per month in Bali and $94 in Puttalam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Bali compared to Puttalam?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,187 in Bali and $63 in Puttalam. That makes Puttalam about 95% cheaper.
Are groceries more expensive in Bali or in Puttalam?
Groceries cost about 319% more in Bali, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bali or in Puttalam?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Puttalam, where all-in costs run around $63, than in Bali at $1,187. In Puttalam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Bali or Puttalam?
It depends on your priorities. Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $63 in Puttalam to $1,187 in Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Bali compared to Puttalam?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

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