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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $527 in Kalutara versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $865 in Kalutara versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,203 in Kalutara versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Kalutara costs roughly 63% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kalutara is 61% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.93 LKR 1,253
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
10.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.04 LKR 7,985
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
-23.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.48 LKR 2,704
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
67.26%
Cappuccino
$2.71 LKR 866
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
-4.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 LKR 221
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
-48.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 LKR 129
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
-40.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.30 LKR 732
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
-23.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 LKR 1,061
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
-13.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 LKR 545
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
-1.72%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 LKR 167
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
-79.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.80 LKR 256
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
-32.77%
Eggs
$2.13 LKR 681
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
-12.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.90 LKR 4,434
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
-5.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.72 LKR 1,505
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
12.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.81 LKR 2,489
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
-34.59%
Apples (1kg)
$7.46 LKR 2,379
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
102.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.12 LKR 356
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
-30.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.82 LKR 1,857
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
116.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 LKR 381
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
-48.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.16 LKR 371
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
-39.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.40 LKR 447
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
-36.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 LKR 363
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
7.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 LKR 192
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
-16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.15 LKR 3,238
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
224.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.69 LKR 4,046
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
-45.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 LKR 637
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
-27.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 LKR 939
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
2.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.29 Rp 5,029
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.41 LKR 132
$0.45 Rp 7,863
-8.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.32 LKR 103
$0.42 Rp 7,305
-23.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.62 LKR 197
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
-89.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 LKR 402
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K LKR 8.5M
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
1.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9K LKR 11.1M
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
7.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$59.3 LKR 18.9K
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-24.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.34 LKR 1,385
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
9.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.85 LKR 4,734
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
-39.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$10.16 LKR 3,240
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-89.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.27 LKR 1,043
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
-19.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$37.30 LKR 11.9K
$303 Rp 5.2M
-87.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$447 LKR 142.6K
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
-93.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.50 LKR 8,770
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
-48.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.70 LKR 6,282
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
-48.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.4 LKR 22.1K
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
-19.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.84 LKR 12.4K
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
-50.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$674 Rp 11.7M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$173 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.45
13.28
23.87%

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

Last update for Kalutara: April 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Kalutara vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $255 vs $298 per month, with Kalutara cheaper across the board.

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
Kalutara vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kalutara or Ubud, Bali?
Kalutara wins on cost – living expenses run 173% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kalutara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kalutara vs Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $790 in Kalutara and $2,158 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do childcare costs compare in Kalutara and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $37.30 in Kalutara versus $303 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Kalutara vs Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Kalutara – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kalutara or Ubud, Bali?
At $527 in Kalutara versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kalutara but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Kalutara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kalutara or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kalutara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $527 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kalutara hard to pass up.
How safe is Kalutara compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Kalutara and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kalutara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 173% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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