Cost of Living Comparison Between Jaffna and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Jaffna and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $497 per month in Jaffna vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $794 per month in Jaffna vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,090 per month in Jaffna vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Jaffna is about 64% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Jaffna sits 64% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.05 LKR 345

$3.37 Rp 59.5K

-68.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.85 LKR 13.1K

$38.59 Rp 680.3K

3.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 LKR 1,541

$5.52 Rp 97.3K

-14.86%

Cappuccino

$3.26 LKR 1,069

$2.64 Rp 46.6K

23.48%

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

$1.70 LKR 559

$1.67 Rp 29.5K

1.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 171

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

-32.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.54 LKR 1,161

$2.63 Rp 46.4K

34.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.04 LKR 1,981

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

41.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 LKR 236

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

-53.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.45 LKR 148

$2.22 Rp 39.2K

-79.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.59 LKR 195

$1.13 Rp 19.8K

-47.79%

Eggs

$1.43 LKR 469

$2.09 Rp 36.8K

-31.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.63 LKR 1,520

$17.39 Rp 306.6K

-73.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.28 LKR 1,075

$3.87 Rp 68.2K

-15.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.05 LKR 1,985

$12.55 Rp 221.2K

-51.79%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 LKR 1,194

$3.62 Rp 63.8K

0.55%

Banana (1kg)

$0.50 LKR 164

$1.56 Rp 27.5K

-67.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 LKR 985

$2.35 Rp 41.5K

27.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 LKR 512

$2.06 Rp 36.2K

-24.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 LKR 336

$1.90 Rp 33.5K

-45.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 LKR 208

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

-73.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 LKR 196

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

-41.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 LKR 129

$0.55 Rp 9,779

-29.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.62 LKR 3,811

$2.25 Rp 39.7K

416.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.23 LKR 5,982

$23.81 Rp 419.7K

-23.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 LKR 835

$2.31 Rp 40.8K

9.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 Rp 49.4K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 LKR 95.0

$0.27 Rp 4,802

7.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.13 LKR 1,028

$8.66 Rp 152.7K

-63.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 LKR 146

$0.48 Rp 8,489

-6.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 LKR 75.2

$0.45 Rp 7,863

-48.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.72 Rp 100.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 LKR 402

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

61.84%

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

$24.5K Rp 431.6M

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

$45.7K LKR 15.0M

$32.1K Rp 566.3M

42.37%

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

$45.93 LKR 15.1K

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

-45.03%

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

$3.07 LKR 1,008

$6.46 Rp 113.8K

-52.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.99 Rp 334.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$5.92 LKR 1,943

$56.0 Rp 986.8K

-89.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 328.2K

Cinema Ticket

$1.81 LKR 594

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

-57.71%

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

$487 Rp 8.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,856 Rp 103.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.00 LKR 12.1K

$45.56 Rp 803.2K

-18.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.38 Rp 641.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$152 LKR 49.8K

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

-86.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$137 LKR 45.1K

$701 Rp 12.4M

-80.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$224 LKR 73.5K

$3,537 Rp 62.4M

-93.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$195 LKR 64.0K

$1,762 Rp 31.1M

-88.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 49.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

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

Last update for Jaffna: August 29, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $152 in Jaffna versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Jaffna versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $170 in Jaffna vs $293 in Ubud, Bali – so Jaffna 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

Jaffna vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $497 in Jaffna, $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 181% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $746 per month in Jaffna and $2,095 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Jaffna, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 177% less in Jaffna. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 72% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Jaffna, where all-in costs run around $497, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Jaffna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $497 in Jaffna to $1,396 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Jaffna. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.