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: $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
$4.51 LKR 1,492
$3.44 Rp 61.0K
31.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.15 LKR 8,646
$36.31 Rp 644.2K
-27.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.62 LKR 2,519
$5.71 Rp 101.2K
33.45%
Cappuccino
$2.55 LKR 844
$2.67 Rp 47.4K
-4.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 LKR 241
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
-58.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 LKR 81.8
$0.87 Rp 15.5K
-71.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.18 LKR 721
$2.95 Rp 52.4K
-26.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 LKR 1,013
$4.52 Rp 80.2K
-32.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 LKR 518
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
-3.09%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 LKR 186
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
-75.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.75 LKR 246
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
-32.43%
Eggs
$1.59 LKR 525
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
-27.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.33 LKR 4,409
$17.69 Rp 313.9K
-24.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.21 LKR 1,722
$4.10 Rp 72.7K
27.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.42 LKR 2,455
$12.18 Rp 216.0K
-39.08%
Apples (1kg)
$6.77 LKR 2,239
$3.71 Rp 65.8K
82.48%
Banana (1kg)
$0.83 LKR 275
$1.59 Rp 28.2K
-47.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.25 LKR 1,407
$2.28 Rp 40.5K
86.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.24 LKR 409
$1.95 Rp 34.7K
-36.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.03 LKR 341
$1.91 Rp 33.8K
-46.07%
Onion (1kg)
$0.82 LKR 270
$2.33 Rp 41.4K
-64.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.88 LKR 289
$1.01 Rp 17.9K
-12.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 LKR 160
$0.55 Rp 9,791
-12.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.41 LKR 3,444
$2.23 Rp 39.6K
366.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.62 LKR 4,505
$23.07 Rp 409.3K
-40.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 LKR 659
$2.42 Rp 42.9K
-17.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 LKR 919
$3.00 Rp 53.2K
-7.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.11 LKR 36.64
$0.27 Rp 4,823
-59.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.38 LKR 3,100
$8.98 Rp 159.4K
4.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.39 LKR 128
$0.48 Rp 8,582
-18.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.17 LKR 56.6
$0.43 Rp 7,693
-60.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.90 LKR 296
$5.64 Rp 100.1K
-84.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 LKR 446
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
68.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K LKR 12.5M
$24.9K Rp 442.5M
51.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.1K LKR 13.3M
$31.7K Rp 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)
$56.1 LKR 18.5K
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
-31.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.25 LKR 1,406
$6.49 Rp 115.2K
-34.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.24 LKR 7,023
$18.77 Rp 333.0K
13.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$9.06 LKR 2,994
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
-84.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.73 Rp 332.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.30 LKR 1,422
$4.54 Rp 80.5K
-5.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$37.98 LKR 12.6K
$481 Rp 8.5M
-92.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,235 LKR 408.3K
$5,711 Rp 101.3M
-78.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.37 LKR 6,735
$45.52 Rp 807.5K
-55.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.56 LKR 5,475
$35.88 Rp 636.6K
-53.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.8 LKR 26.7K
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
0.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.28 LKR 14.0K
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
-46.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,115 Rp 19.8M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$86.1 LKR 28.5K
$698 Rp 12.4M
-87.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,637 Rp 64.5M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,784 Rp 49.4M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,290 Rp 40.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$168 Rp 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.

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