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