🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $542 in Kalutara versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $867 in Kalutara versus $2,557 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,192 in Kalutara versus $3,723 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Kalutara costs roughly 61% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kalutara is 59% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.10LKR 1,376
$3.57Rp 64.5K
14.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.95LKR 8,374
$32.32Rp 583.4K
-22.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.51LKR 2,855
$5.01Rp 90.4K
69.86%
Cappuccino
$2.75LKR 923
$2.82Rp 51.0K
-2.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73LKR 244
$1.35Rp 24.4K
-45.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37LKR 125
$0.73Rp 13.2K
-49.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.30LKR 773
$2.93Rp 53.0K
-21.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40LKR 1,142
$3.94Rp 71.1K
-13.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78LKR 596
$1.78Rp 32.1K
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.53LKR 177
$2.45Rp 44.2K
-78.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.81LKR 272
$1.15Rp 20.7K
-29.57%
Eggs
$2.18LKR 733
$2.41Rp 43.6K
-9.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.99LKR 4,696
$14.33Rp 258.7K
-2.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.53LKR 1,520
$4.19Rp 75.6K
8.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.98LKR 2,677
$12.06Rp 217.7K
-33.83%
Apples(1kg)
$7.60LKR 2,551
$3.64Rp 65.7K
108.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10LKR 369
$1.57Rp 28.3K
-29.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.94LKR 1,992
$2.79Rp 50.3K
112.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.20LKR 404
$2.24Rp 40.5K
-46.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16LKR 389
$1.98Rp 35.7K
-41.41%
Onion(1kg)
$1.41LKR 475
$2.28Rp 41.1K
-38.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14LKR 384
$1.05Rp 19.0K
8.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57LKR 191
$0.79Rp 14.2K
-27.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.87LKR 3,312
$3.19Rp 57.6K
209.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.79LKR 4,291
$23.49Rp 424.1K
-45.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01LKR 674
$2.90Rp 52.3K
-30.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88LKR 966
$2.76Rp 49.7K
4.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.27Rp 4,813
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.37Rp 151.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.39LKR 131
$0.45Rp 8,167
-13.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35LKR 119
$0.46Rp 8,298
-23.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.58LKR 193
$6.07Rp 109.6K
-90.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25LKR 418
$0.86Rp 15.6K
45.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3KLKR 8.8M
$26.6KRp 480.0M
-0.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8KLKR 11.7M
$32.5KRp 587.6M
6.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.3LKR 20.2K
$79.0Rp 1.4M
-23.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.42LKR 1,482
$4.09Rp 73.9K
8.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.93LKR 5,009
$23.85Rp 430.5K
-37.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$10.13LKR 3,398
$98.8Rp 1.8M
-89.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.35Rp 114.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.41LKR 1,145
$4.01Rp 72.3K
-14.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$36.88LKR 12.4K
$297Rp 5.4M
-87.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$449LKR 150.8K
$6,602Rp 119.2M
-93.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.12LKR 9,100
$53.4Rp 964.5K
-49.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.32LKR 6,482
$38.11Rp 688.1K
-49.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.7LKR 23.4K
$88.7Rp 1.6M
-21.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.09LKR 13.1K
$76.6Rp 1.4M
-48.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,020Rp 18.4M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$680Rp 12.3M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,469Rp 62.6M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,090Rp 37.7M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,729Rp 49.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,295Rp 41.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$164Rp 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: July 28, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in Kalutara vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $257 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 157% 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 $812 in Kalutara and $2,088 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $36.88 in Kalutara versus $297 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 and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Kalutara – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $32.00 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 in Ubud, Bali?
At $542 in Kalutara versus $1,392 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 $542 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 157% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.