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 $496 per month in Jaffna vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $684 per month in Jaffna vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $872 per month in Jaffna vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Jaffna is about 65% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Jaffna sits 63% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.09 LKR 1,712

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

5.17%

Cappuccino

$3.43 LKR 1,152

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

24.73%

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

$0.48 LKR 161

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

-65.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 LKR 107

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

-57.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.32 LKR 1,116

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

11.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.84 LKR 2,299

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

77.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 LKR 168

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

-79.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.71 LKR 237

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

-39.32%

Eggs

$1.58 LKR 531

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

-34.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 LKR 1,675

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

-65.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 LKR 1,154

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

-21.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.55 LKR 2,199

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

-45.33%

Apples (1kg)

$4.07 LKR 1,367

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

9.41%

Banana (1kg)

$0.52 LKR 173

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

-68.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.41 LKR 1,146

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

24.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 LKR 549

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

-27.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 373

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

-42.19%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 LKR 263

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

-65.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 LKR 231

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

-34.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 LKR 146

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

-38.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.96 LKR 4,354

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

293.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.81 LKR 5,985

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

-23.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 LKR 962

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

2.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 LKR 107

$0.27 Rp 4,778

18.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.33 LKR 1,118

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

-58.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 LKR 172

$0.48 Rp 8,659

6.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,532

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 LKR 342

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

25.93%

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

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

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

$50.1K LKR 16.8M

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

55.63%

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

$49.29 LKR 16.6K

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

-37.09%

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

$3.27 LKR 1,099

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

-19.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.59 LKR 2,216

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

-93.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

Cinema Ticket

$2.03 LKR 681

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

-49.12%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.62 LKR 13.3K

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

-26.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 LKR 55.4K

$992 Rp 17.8M

-83.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 LKR 50.5K

$673 Rp 12.1M

-77.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$247 LKR 83.0K

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

-92.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$215 LKR 72.3K

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

-89.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Jaffna: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $165 in Jaffna versus $992 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.

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: $496 in Jaffna, $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 184% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $744 per month in Jaffna and $2,112 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 144% less in Jaffna. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $496 in Jaffna and $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Jaffna, where all-in costs run around $496, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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 $496 in Jaffna to $1,408 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.