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

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$4.43 LKR 1,457
$3.33 Rp 58.7K
33.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.03 LKR 8,552
$35.82 Rp 630.7K
-27.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.51 LKR 2,467
$5.63 Rp 99.1K
33.39%
Cappuccino
$2.55 LKR 838
$2.82 Rp 49.7K
-9.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 LKR 225
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
-61.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 LKR 89.2
$0.80 Rp 14.0K
-66.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 LKR 727
$3.04 Rp 53.6K
-27.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 LKR 992
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
-29.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 LKR 521
$1.61 Rp 28.3K
-1.24%
White Bread (500g)
$0.57 LKR 186
$2.27 Rp 39.9K
-74.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.76 LKR 249
$1.17 Rp 20.6K
-35.04%
Eggs
$1.66 LKR 545
$2.17 Rp 38.2K
-23.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.31 LKR 4,375
$17.63 Rp 310.5K
-24.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.04 LKR 1,655
$4.05 Rp 71.4K
24.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.24 LKR 2,380
$12.18 Rp 214.5K
-40.56%
Apples (1kg)
$6.90 LKR 2,267
$3.62 Rp 63.7K
90.61%
Banana (1kg)
$0.83 LKR 272
$1.64 Rp 28.8K
-49.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.16 LKR 1,366
$2.31 Rp 40.6K
80.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.24 LKR 409
$1.96 Rp 34.5K
-36.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.05 LKR 345
$1.84 Rp 32.5K
-42.93%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 LKR 244
$2.37 Rp 41.7K
-68.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 LKR 292
$1.05 Rp 18.5K
-15.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 LKR 162
$0.54 Rp 9,560
-9.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.58 LKR 3,475
$2.30 Rp 40.6K
360.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.86 LKR 4,553
$23.08 Rp 406.4K
-39.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 LKR 655
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
-14.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 LKR 922
$3.07 Rp 54.0K
-8.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.25 Rp 4,365
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$9.42 Rp 165.9K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.41 LKR 136
$0.49 Rp 8,631
-16.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 LKR 125
$0.47 Rp 8,349
-19.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.87 LKR 287
$5.60 Rp 98.6K
-84.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 LKR 421
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
58.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K LKR 10.1M
$25.0K Rp 440.3M
23.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.3K LKR 14.2M
$31.1K Rp 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)
$55.9 LKR 18.4K
$82.7 Rp 1.5M
-32.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.26 LKR 1,401
$6.49 Rp 114.2K
-34.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.21 LKR 6,969
$18.79 Rp 330.8K
12.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$55.2 Rp 972.6K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.21 Rp 320.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.49 LKR 1,474
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
4.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$37.65 LKR 12.4K
$494 Rp 8.7M
-92.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,201 LKR 394.7K
$5,917 Rp 104.2M
-79.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.83 LKR 6,516
$46.28 Rp 814.8K
-57.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.89 LKR 5,550
$36.44 Rp 641.6K
-53.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.5 LKR 26.4K
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
-0.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.07 LKR 14.2K
$78.8 Rp 1.4M
-45.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,114 Rp 19.6M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$693 Rp 12.2M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,639 Rp 64.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,712 Rp 30.1M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,761 Rp 48.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,293 Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$167 Rp 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.

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