🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $517 in Trincomalee versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $825 in Trincomalee versus $2,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,132 in Trincomalee versus $3,275 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Trincomalee costs roughly 63% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Trincomalee is 63% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.43LKR 1,457
$3.33Rp 58.7K
33.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.03LKR 8,552
$35.82Rp 630.7K
-27.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.51LKR 2,467
$5.63Rp 99.1K
33.39%
Cappuccino
$2.55LKR 838
$2.82Rp 49.7K
-9.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68LKR 225
$1.75Rp 30.8K
-61.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27LKR 89.2
$0.80Rp 14.0K
-66.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21LKR 727
$3.04Rp 53.6K
-27.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02LKR 992
$4.30Rp 75.7K
-29.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59LKR 521
$1.61Rp 28.3K
-1.24%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57LKR 186
$2.27Rp 39.9K
-74.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.76LKR 249
$1.17Rp 20.6K
-35.04%
Eggs
$1.66LKR 545
$2.17Rp 38.2K
-23.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.31LKR 4,375
$17.63Rp 310.5K
-24.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.04LKR 1,655
$4.05Rp 71.4K
24.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.24LKR 2,380
$12.18Rp 214.5K
-40.56%
Apples(1kg)
$6.90LKR 2,267
$3.62Rp 63.7K
90.61%
Banana(1kg)
$0.83LKR 272
$1.64Rp 28.8K
-49.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.16LKR 1,366
$2.31Rp 40.6K
80.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.24LKR 409
$1.96Rp 34.5K
-36.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.05LKR 345
$1.84Rp 32.5K
-42.93%
Onion(1kg)
$0.74LKR 244
$2.37Rp 41.7K
-68.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89LKR 292
$1.05Rp 18.5K
-15.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49LKR 162
$0.54Rp 9,560
-9.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.58LKR 3,475
$2.30Rp 40.6K
360.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.86LKR 4,553
$23.08Rp 406.4K
-39.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99LKR 655
$2.34Rp 41.2K
-14.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81LKR 922
$3.07Rp 54.0K
-8.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.25Rp 4,365
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$9.42Rp 165.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.41LKR 136
$0.49Rp 8,631
-16.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38LKR 125
$0.47Rp 8,349
-19.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.87LKR 287
$5.60Rp 98.6K
-84.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28LKR 421
$0.81Rp 14.2K
58.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KLKR 10.1M
$25.0KRp 440.3M
23.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.3KLKR 14.2M
$31.1KRp 547.0M
39.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$55.9LKR 18.4K
$82.7Rp 1.5M
-32.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.26LKR 1,401
$6.49Rp 114.2K
-34.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.21LKR 6,969
$18.79Rp 330.8K
12.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$55.2Rp 972.6K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.21Rp 320.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.49LKR 1,474
$4.30Rp 75.7K
4.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$37.65LKR 12.4K
$494Rp 8.7M
-92.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,201LKR 394.7K
$5,917Rp 104.2M
-79.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.83LKR 6,516
$46.28Rp 814.8K
-57.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.89LKR 5,550
$36.44Rp 641.6K
-53.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.5LKR 26.4K
$80.7Rp 1.4M
-0.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.07LKR 14.2K
$78.8Rp 1.4M
-45.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,114Rp 19.6M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$693Rp 12.2M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,639Rp 64.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,712Rp 30.1M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,761Rp 48.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,293Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$167Rp 2.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.69
13.78
-7.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Trincomalee: September 6, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $26.00 in Trincomalee vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $238 vs $294 per month, with Trincomalee 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
Trincomalee vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Trincomalee?
Trincomalee is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 167% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $775 in Trincomalee and $2,067 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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $37.65 in Trincomalee versus $494 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Trincomalee or in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Trincomalee – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Trincomalee or in Ubud, Bali?
At $517 in Trincomalee versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Trincomalee but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Trincomalee the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Trincomalee or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Trincomalee is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Trincomalee or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Trincomalee 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Trincomalee gentler on the wallet – expenses run 167% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Trincomalee vs other spots: cost of living compared