🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $526 in Trincomalee versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $860 in Trincomalee versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,194 in Trincomalee versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Trincomalee costs roughly 63% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Trincomalee is 61% below, Ubud, Bali is 4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.08LKR 1,374
$3.57Rp 64.7K
14.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.56LKR 8,614
$32.50Rp 589.5K
-21.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.49LKR 2,863
$4.86Rp 88.2K
74.69%
Cappuccino
$2.75LKR 928
$2.75Rp 49.8K
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68LKR 230
$1.32Rp 24.0K
-48.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40LKR 136
$0.70Rp 12.7K
-42.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.29LKR 771
$2.91Rp 52.8K
-21.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38LKR 1,138
$3.79Rp 68.8K
-10.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78LKR 600
$1.71Rp 31.0K
4.09%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53LKR 178
$2.47Rp 44.9K
-78.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87LKR 294
$1.20Rp 21.8K
-27.50%
Eggs
$2.11LKR 710
$2.44Rp 44.3K
-13.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.82LKR 4,658
$14.38Rp 260.9K
-3.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.69LKR 1,580
$4.31Rp 78.1K
8.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.89LKR 2,660
$12.21Rp 221.4K
-35.38%
Apples(1kg)
$7.39LKR 2,490
$3.68Rp 66.8K
100.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06LKR 358
$1.55Rp 28.1K
-31.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.87LKR 1,977
$2.79Rp 50.5K
110.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.26LKR 423
$2.33Rp 42.3K
-45.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.10LKR 371
$1.97Rp 35.7K
-44.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42LKR 479
$2.31Rp 41.9K
-38.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18LKR 398
$1.06Rp 19.3K
11.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60LKR 201
$0.73Rp 13.2K
-17.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.23LKR 3,447
$3.28Rp 59.5K
211.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.66LKR 4,267
$22.79Rp 413.4K
-44.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10LKR 706
$2.81Rp 50.9K
-25.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94LKR 990
$2.78Rp 50.5K
5.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.29Rp 5,281
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.06Rp 146.2K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.42LKR 141
$0.45Rp 8,146
-6.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.32LKR 109
$0.45Rp 8,193
-28.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.61LKR 205
$6.24Rp 113.1K
-90.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24LKR 418
$0.85Rp 15.4K
45.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5KLKR 8.9M
$26.0KRp 471.2M
1.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4KLKR 11.9M
$31.7KRp 574.1M
11.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.7LKR 20.5K
$80.8Rp 1.5M
-24.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.24LKR 1,429
$4.06Rp 73.6K
4.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.84LKR 5,002
$24.42Rp 442.9K
-39.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$97.7Rp 1.8M
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.45Rp 116.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.37LKR 1,135
$4.04Rp 73.3K
-16.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$36.99LKR 12.5K
$304Rp 5.5M
-87.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$439LKR 147.8K
$6,621Rp 120.1M
-93.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.66LKR 9,323
$54.2Rp 983.6K
-49.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.34LKR 6,519
$38.78Rp 703.2K
-50.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.3LKR 23.0K
$86.1Rp 1.6M
-20.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.45LKR 13.3K
$76.7Rp 1.4M
-48.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$986Rp 17.9M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$658Rp 11.9M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,369Rp 61.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,066Rp 37.5M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,741Rp 49.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,228Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trincomalee
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$163Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.45
13.28
23.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Trincomalee: June 7, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $26.00 in Trincomalee vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $256 vs $297 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, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, 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 $789 in Trincomalee and $2,106 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 $36.99 in Trincomalee versus $304 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 Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Trincomalee – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Trincomalee or Ubud, Bali?
At $526 in Trincomalee versus $1,404 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