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