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 $531 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $838 per month in Ratnapura vs $2,549 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,145 per month in Ratnapura vs $3,694 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Ratnapura is about 62% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ratnapura sits 60% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.21 LKR 744

$3.57 Rp 64.7K

-38.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.19 LKR 3,434

$32.50 Rp 589.5K

-68.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.55 LKR 2,206

$4.86 Rp 88.2K

34.77%

Cappuccino

$2.40 LKR 808

$2.75 Rp 49.8K

-12.73%

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

$0.80 LKR 270

$1.32 Rp 24.0K

-39.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 175

$0.70 Rp 12.7K

-25.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 LKR 713

$2.91 Rp 52.8K

-27.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 LKR 1,018

$3.79 Rp 68.8K

-20.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 LKR 668

$1.71 Rp 31.0K

15.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 LKR 279

$2.47 Rp 44.9K

-66.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 LKR 241

$1.20 Rp 21.8K

-40.00%

Eggs

$1.19 LKR 403

$2.44 Rp 44.3K

-51.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.56 LKR 5,580

$14.38 Rp 260.9K

15.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.21 LKR 2,429

$4.31 Rp 78.1K

67.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.39 LKR 5,859

$12.21 Rp 221.4K

42.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.59 LKR 1,548

$3.68 Rp 66.8K

24.73%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 LKR 262

$1.55 Rp 28.1K

-49.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.74 LKR 1,599

$2.79 Rp 50.5K

69.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 LKR 365

$2.33 Rp 42.3K

-53.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 LKR 393

$1.97 Rp 35.7K

-40.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 LKR 533

$2.31 Rp 41.9K

-31.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 LKR 178

$1.06 Rp 19.3K

-50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 161

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

-34.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 LKR 4,988

$3.28 Rp 59.5K

351.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.63 LKR 4,257

$22.79 Rp 413.4K

-44.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 LKR 779

$2.81 Rp 50.9K

-17.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 LKR 1,078

$2.78 Rp 50.5K

15.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 LKR 139

$0.29 Rp 5,281

41.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 146.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 140

$0.45 Rp 8,146

-8.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 LKR 176

$0.45 Rp 8,193

15.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.34 LKR 115

$6.24 Rp 113.1K

-94.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 LKR 360

$0.85 Rp 15.4K

25.88%

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

$21.9K LKR 7.4M

$26.0K Rp 471.2M

-15.59%

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

$21.6K LKR 7.3M

$31.7K Rp 574.1M

-31.81%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.5M

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

$2.26 LKR 762

$4.06 Rp 73.6K

-44.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.81 LKR 2,632

$24.42 Rp 442.9K

-68.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.22 LKR 3,445

$97.7 Rp 1.8M

-89.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 116.9K

Cinema Ticket

$2.60 LKR 878

$4.04 Rp 73.3K

-35.64%

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

$304 Rp 5.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 120.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.64 LKR 3,923

$54.2 Rp 983.6K

-78.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.47 LKR 2,853

$38.78 Rp 703.2K

-78.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.7 LKR 31.9K

$86.1 Rp 1.6M

9.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.23 LKR 9,514

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

-63.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$82.6 LKR 27.8K

$986 Rp 17.9M

-91.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.9 LKR 20.2K

$658 Rp 11.9M

-90.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 61.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.1 LKR 31.7K

$2,066 Rp 37.5M

-95.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 LKR 55.6K

$163 Rp 3.0M

0.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Ratnapura: June 8, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $82.6 in Ratnapura versus $986 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 1% 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 $10.00 in Ratnapura versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $283 vs $297 – 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 164%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $797 per month in Ratnapura and $2,106 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 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.

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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ratnapura, where all-in costs run around $531, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. 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.