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 $524 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $845 per month in Ratnapura vs $2,582 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,166 per month in Ratnapura vs $3,757 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Ratnapura is about 63% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ratnapura sits 61% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ratnapura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.22 LKR 704
$3.42 Rp 58.7K
-35.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.13 LKR 3,208
$32.96 Rp 566.5K
-69.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.73 LKR 2,132
$5.08 Rp 87.3K
32.48%
Cappuccino
$2.36 LKR 746
$2.82 Rp 48.5K
-16.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 LKR 271
$1.37 Rp 23.5K
-37.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 LKR 166
$0.71 Rp 12.2K
-26.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 LKR 685
$2.97 Rp 51.0K
-27.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 LKR 972
$3.91 Rp 67.2K
-21.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ratnapura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 LKR 652
$1.75 Rp 30.0K
17.71%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 LKR 256
$2.52 Rp 43.2K
-67.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.67 LKR 211
$1.21 Rp 20.8K
-44.63%
Eggs
$1.24 LKR 393
$2.33 Rp 40.1K
-46.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.48 LKR 5,217
$14.50 Rp 249.2K
13.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.96 LKR 2,204
$4.36 Rp 74.9K
59.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.55 LKR 5,554
$12.05 Rp 207.0K
45.64%
Apples (1kg)
$4.81 LKR 1,521
$3.82 Rp 65.6K
25.92%
Banana (1kg)
$0.83 LKR 264
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
-48.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.74 LKR 1,502
$2.70 Rp 46.5K
75.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.05 LKR 331
$2.23 Rp 38.3K
-52.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 LKR 370
$1.90 Rp 32.6K
-38.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.56 LKR 493
$2.18 Rp 37.5K
-28.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.56 LKR 178
$1.03 Rp 17.7K
-45.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 LKR 152
$0.77 Rp 13.3K
-37.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.48 LKR 4,584
$3.18 Rp 54.7K
355.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.40 LKR 4,241
$23.23 Rp 399.2K
-42.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 LKR 732
$2.85 Rp 48.9K
-18.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 LKR 977
$2.72 Rp 46.7K
13.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Ratnapura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 LKR 123
$0.29 Rp 5,022
34.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.43 Rp 144.8K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.41 LKR 130
$0.49 Rp 8,344
-16.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.48 LKR 153
$0.45 Rp 7,812
6.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.32 LKR 100
$6.28 Rp 107.8K
-94.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 LKR 326
$0.85 Rp 14.6K
21.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0K LKR 7.0M
$26.1K Rp 447.8M
-15.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4K LKR 6.8M
$31.5K Rp 541.8M
-32.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ratnapura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$79.8 Rp 1.4M
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.20 LKR 697
$4.09 Rp 70.3K
-46.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.85 LKR 2,484
$24.06 Rp 413.6K
-67.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ratnapura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$10.07 LKR 3,188
$96.2 Rp 1.7M
-89.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.53 Rp 112.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.60 LKR 824
$4.13 Rp 71.1K
-37.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ratnapura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$297 Rp 5.1M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$6,661 Rp 114.5M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ratnapura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.70 LKR 3,703
$55.0 Rp 944.5K
-78.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.17 LKR 2,585
$38.75 Rp 666.0K
-78.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.5 LKR 29.6K
$89.6 Rp 1.5M
4.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.36 LKR 8,975
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
-64.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ratnapura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$84.4 LKR 26.7K
$1,018 Rp 17.5M
-91.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$61.4 LKR 19.4K
$660 Rp 11.3M
-90.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,435 Rp 59.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$92.4 LKR 29.2K
$2,053 Rp 35.3M
-95.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,981 Rp 51.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,368 Rp 40.7M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ratnapura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$177 LKR 55.9K
$172 Rp 3.0M
2.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
13.28
-

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

Last update for Ratnapura: April 22, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $84 in Ratnapura versus $1,018 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 3% 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 $10 in Ratnapura versus $33 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $299 – 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
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Ratnapura?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 168%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $787 per month in Ratnapura and $2,112 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
How do food prices compare in Ratnapura and Ubud, Bali?
Groceries cost about 5% 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Ratnapura or Ubud, Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $10.00 in Ratnapura and $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ratnapura or Ubud, Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ratnapura, where all-in costs run around $524, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Ratnapura it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ratnapura or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Ratnapura or Ubud, Bali?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

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