🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $539 in Kalutara versus $1,394 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $868 in Kalutara versus $2,551 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,196 in Kalutara versus $3,708 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 60% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.93LKR 1,308
$3.40Rp 60.2K
15.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.58LKR 8,517
$32.38Rp 573.6K
-21.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.35LKR 2,780
$5.00Rp 88.6K
67.00%
Cappuccino
$2.66LKR 886
$2.82Rp 50.0K
-5.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72LKR 241
$1.38Rp 24.4K
-47.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37LKR 124
$0.73Rp 13.0K
-49.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.29LKR 762
$2.98Rp 52.8K
-23.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32LKR 1,107
$3.97Rp 70.3K
-16.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75LKR 584
$1.79Rp 31.8K
-2.23%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56LKR 187
$2.46Rp 43.7K
-77.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.82LKR 273
$1.20Rp 21.2K
-31.67%
Eggs
$2.14LKR 712
$2.39Rp 42.3K
-10.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.15LKR 4,711
$14.40Rp 255.1K
-1.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.59LKR 1,529
$4.28Rp 75.9K
7.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.84LKR 2,612
$11.82Rp 209.4K
-33.67%
Apples(1kg)
$7.37LKR 2,455
$3.78Rp 67.0K
94.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11LKR 370
$1.63Rp 28.9K
-31.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.66LKR 1,885
$2.80Rp 49.6K
102.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.24LKR 414
$2.26Rp 40.0K
-45.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16LKR 387
$2.00Rp 35.3K
-42.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42LKR 472
$2.21Rp 39.2K
-35.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15LKR 383
$1.07Rp 18.9K
7.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60LKR 201
$0.76Rp 13.5K
-21.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.25LKR 3,413
$3.13Rp 55.4K
227.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.98LKR 4,322
$23.81Rp 421.9K
-45.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11LKR 702
$2.84Rp 50.3K
-25.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88LKR 959
$2.78Rp 49.2K
3.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.27Rp 4,726
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.37Rp 148.2K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.38LKR 127
$0.45Rp 8,034
-15.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33LKR 108
$0.43Rp 7,578
-23.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.57LKR 190
$5.98Rp 105.9K
-90.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24LKR 413
$0.80Rp 14.2K
55.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8KLKR 8.9M
$25.8KRp 457.2M
4.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6KLKR 11.5M
$31.8KRp 563.4M
8.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.2LKR 19.7K
$80.7Rp 1.4M
-26.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.21LKR 1,402
$4.14Rp 73.3K
1.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.97LKR 4,985
$24.12Rp 427.2K
-37.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.92LKR 3,303
$97.8Rp 1.7M
-89.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.64Rp 117.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.32LKR 1,105
$4.04Rp 71.5K
-17.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$36.60LKR 12.2K
$297Rp 5.3M
-87.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$442LKR 147.2K
$6,590Rp 116.7M
-93.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.75LKR 9,241
$55.1Rp 976.8K
-49.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.68LKR 6,553
$38.51Rp 682.1K
-48.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.2LKR 23.4K
$86.1Rp 1.5M
-18.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.14LKR 12.7K
$78.0Rp 1.4M
-51.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$985Rp 17.5M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$665Rp 11.8M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,446Rp 61.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,042Rp 36.2M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,829Rp 50.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,282Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalutara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$169Rp 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: June 15, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $26.00 in Kalutara vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $257 vs $299 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 158% 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 $809 in Kalutara and $2,091 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 $36.60 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Kalutara – a meal for two runs $26.00 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 Ubud, Bali?
At $539 in Kalutara versus $1,394 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 $539 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 158% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.