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 $499 per month in Jaffna vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $699 per month in Jaffna vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $900 per month in Jaffna vs $3,660 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 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 LKR 1,636

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

-0.40%

Cappuccino

$3.32 LKR 1,101

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

22.51%

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

$0.52 LKR 172

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

-61.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 LKR 114

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

-51.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.44 LKR 1,139

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

17.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.61 LKR 2,193

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

66.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 LKR 166

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

-80.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.67 LKR 221

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

-42.24%

Eggs

$1.65 LKR 546

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

-32.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.96 LKR 1,646

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

-66.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 LKR 1,151

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

-19.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.60 LKR 2,187

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

-45.63%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 LKR 1,366

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

7.29%

Banana (1kg)

$0.57 LKR 188

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

-63.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.25 LKR 1,078

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

14.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.70 LKR 563

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

-27.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 370

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

-41.36%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 LKR 258

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

-64.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 LKR 216

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

-35.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 135

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

-47.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.80 LKR 4,245

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

285.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.84 LKR 5,914

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

-24.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 LKR 948

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

2.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 LKR 105

$0.27 Rp 4,800

18.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.43 LKR 1,137

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

-57.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 LKR 169

$0.46 Rp 8,150

10.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 LKR 336

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

27.85%

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

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

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

$51.2K LKR 17.0M

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

59.43%

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

$50.8 LKR 16.8K

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

-36.49%

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

$3.37 LKR 1,117

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

-17.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.81 LKR 2,257

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-93.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

Cinema Ticket

$1.95 LKR 647

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

-53.01%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.42 LKR 13.4K

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

-27.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 LKR 55.3K

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

-83.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 LKR 50.4K

$675 Rp 12.1M

-77.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$254 LKR 84.3K

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

-92.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$217 LKR 72.1K

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

-89.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $167 in Jaffna versus $1,006 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: $499 in Jaffna, $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 185% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $748 per month in Jaffna and $2,129 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 134% less in Jaffna. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $499 in Jaffna and $1,419 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 $499, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. 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 $499 in Jaffna to $1,419 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.