🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $619 in Kalutara versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $899 in Kalutara versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,179 in Kalutara versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Kalutara costs roughly 55% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kalutara is 55% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51LKR 1,492
$3.44Rp 61.0K
31.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.15LKR 8,646
$36.31Rp 644.2K
-27.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.62LKR 2,519
$5.71Rp 101.2K
33.45%
Cappuccino
$2.55LKR 844
$2.67Rp 47.4K
-4.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73LKR 241
$1.75Rp 31.0K
-58.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25LKR 81.8
$0.87Rp 15.5K
-71.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.18LKR 721
$2.95Rp 52.4K
-26.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06LKR 1,013
$4.52Rp 80.2K
-32.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.57LKR 518
$1.62Rp 28.7K
-3.09%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56LKR 186
$2.33Rp 41.3K
-75.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.75LKR 246
$1.11Rp 19.6K
-32.43%
Eggs
$1.59LKR 525
$2.20Rp 39.0K
-27.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.33LKR 4,409
$17.69Rp 313.9K
-24.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.21LKR 1,722
$4.10Rp 72.7K
27.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.42LKR 2,455
$12.18Rp 216.0K
-39.08%
Apples(1kg)
$6.77LKR 2,239
$3.71Rp 65.8K
82.48%
Banana(1kg)
$0.83LKR 275
$1.59Rp 28.2K
-47.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.25LKR 1,407
$2.28Rp 40.5K
86.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.24LKR 409
$1.95Rp 34.7K
-36.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03LKR 341
$1.91Rp 33.8K
-46.07%
Onion(1kg)
$0.82LKR 270
$2.33Rp 41.4K
-64.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88LKR 289
$1.01Rp 17.9K
-12.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48LKR 160
$0.55Rp 9,791
-12.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.41LKR 3,444
$2.23Rp 39.6K
366.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.62LKR 4,505
$23.07Rp 409.3K
-40.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99LKR 659
$2.42Rp 42.9K
-17.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78LKR 919
$3.00Rp 53.2K
-7.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.11LKR 36.64
$0.27Rp 4,823
-59.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.38LKR 3,100
$8.98Rp 159.4K
4.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.39LKR 128
$0.48Rp 8,582
-18.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.17LKR 56.6
$0.43Rp 7,693
-60.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.90LKR 296
$5.64Rp 100.1K
-84.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35LKR 446
$0.80Rp 14.3K
68.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7KLKR 12.5M
$24.9KRp 442.5M
51.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.1KLKR 13.3M
$31.7KRp 562.6M
26.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$56.1LKR 18.5K
$81.5Rp 1.4M
-31.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.25LKR 1,406
$6.49Rp 115.2K
-34.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.24LKR 7,023
$18.77Rp 333.0K
13.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.06LKR 2,994
$56.9Rp 1.0M
-84.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.73Rp 332.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.30LKR 1,422
$4.54Rp 80.5K
-5.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$37.98LKR 12.6K
$481Rp 8.5M
-92.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,235LKR 408.3K
$5,711Rp 101.3M
-78.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.37LKR 6,735
$45.52Rp 807.5K
-55.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.56LKR 5,475
$35.88Rp 636.6K
-53.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.8LKR 26.7K
$80.4Rp 1.4M
0.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.28LKR 14.0K
$78.7Rp 1.4M
-46.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,115Rp 19.8M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$86.1LKR 28.5K
$698Rp 12.4M
-87.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,637Rp 64.5M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,737Rp 30.8M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,784Rp 49.4M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,290Rp 40.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$168Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.69
13.78
-7.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kalutara: September 13, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $26.00 in Kalutara vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $238 vs $295 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 121% 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 and in Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $928 in Kalutara and $2,052 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 expensive is transport in Kalutara compared to Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Kalutara runs roughly 4% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Kalutara and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $37.98 in Kalutara versus $481 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kalutara or in Ubud, Bali?
At $619 in Kalutara versus $1,368 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 $619 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 121% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.