Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $481 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $765 per month in Ratnapura vs $2,327 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,050 per month in Ratnapura vs $3,275 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Ratnapura is about 65% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Ratnapura sits 65% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.00 LKR 656

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

-39.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.18 LKR 3,016

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

-74.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.13 LKR 2,013

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

8.88%

Cappuccino

$2.08 LKR 683

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

-26.24%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 LKR 259

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

-54.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 157

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

-40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 LKR 655

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

-34.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 LKR 908

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

-35.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 LKR 594

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

12.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 LKR 260

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

-65.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.66 LKR 218

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

-43.59%

Eggs

$1.12 LKR 368

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

-48.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.15 LKR 4,980

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

-14.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.51 LKR 2,139

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

60.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.90 LKR 5,226

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

30.54%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 LKR 1,420

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

19.34%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 251

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

-53.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 LKR 1,432

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

88.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 LKR 334

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

-47.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 LKR 338

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

-44.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 LKR 451

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

-42.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 LKR 156

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

-54.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 LKR 147

$0.54 Rp 9,560

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.10 LKR 4,303

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

469.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.62 LKR 4,148

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

-45.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 LKR 692

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

-9.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 LKR 933

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

-7.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 LKR 116

$0.25 Rp 4,365

40.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.36 LKR 117

$0.49 Rp 8,631

-26.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 LKR 144

$0.47 Rp 8,349

-6.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 LKR 326

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

22.22%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.6K LKR 6.5M

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

-21.47%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.7K LKR 6.5M

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

-36.44%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$2.01 LKR 662

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

-69.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.49 LKR 2,462

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

-60.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.02 LKR 2,964

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

-83.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

Cinema Ticket

$2.40 LKR 787

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

-44.19%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$494 Rp 8.7M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.79 LKR 3,545

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

-76.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.76 LKR 2,550

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

-78.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 LKR 28.2K

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

6.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.03 LKR 8,553

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

-66.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.6 LKR 25.2K

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

-93.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$54.0 LKR 17.7K

$693 Rp 12.2M

-92.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$86.2 LKR 28.3K

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

-94.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 LKR 55.9K

$167 Rp 2.9M

1.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ratnapura: September 5, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $76.6 in Ratnapura versus $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 2% higher in Ratnapura, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Ratnapura versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $262 vs $294 – making Ratnapura the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Ratnapura vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 187%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $721 per month in Ratnapura and $2,067 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ratnapura, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Ratnapura and $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ratnapura, where all-in costs run around $481, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. In Ratnapura it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ratnapura – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ratnapura. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.