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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $575 in Bandarawela, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $929 in Bandarawela, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,283 in Bandarawela, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 147% more than Bandarawela, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Bandarawela is 57% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

$3.96 LKR 1,315

-10.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$25.10 LKR 8,323

30.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$8.29 LKR 2,748

-40.29%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$2.62 LKR 869

3.44%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$0.74 LKR 246

81.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.40 LKR 134

75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$2.28 LKR 758

28.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

$3.29 LKR 1,091

20.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$1.76 LKR 584

2.84%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

$0.56 LKR 187

350.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$0.88 LKR 292

31.82%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$2.15 LKR 712

14.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

$13.85 LKR 4,591

6.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

$4.70 LKR 1,558

-8.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

$8.11 LKR 2,689

49.69%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

$7.53 LKR 2,497

-49.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

$1.08 LKR 357

44.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

$5.94 LKR 1,968

-52.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

$1.22 LKR 404

90.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$1.15 LKR 380

66.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

$1.40 LKR 465

57.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$1.19 LKR 395

-15.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$0.60 LKR 200

30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

$10.13 LKR 3,360

-67.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

$12.70 LKR 4,210

86.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

$2.07 LKR 688

34.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

$2.86 LKR 948

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$0.16 LKR 54.0

68.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

$1.66 LKR 550

383.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

$0.41 LKR 136

12.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

$0.35 LKR 117

28.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

$0.48 LKR 158

1170.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.08 LKR 357

-26.85%

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

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

$26.4K LKR 8.8M

-1.06%

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

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

-8.78%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$60.9 LKR 20.2K

31.26%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

$4.41 LKR 1,464

-7.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

$15.27 LKR 5,063

54.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$4.96 LKR 1,644

1889.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

$3.28 LKR 1,088

26.52%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$36.34 LKR 12.0K

736.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

$446 LKR 147.9K

1382.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

$27.15 LKR 9,001

104.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

$19.33 LKR 6,410

98.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$69.1 LKR 22.9K

28.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$39.27 LKR 13.0K

98.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$99.0 LKR 32.8K

916.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$51.2 LKR 17.0K

1219.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

$135 LKR 44.9K

2444.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

$66.3 LKR 22.0K

2975.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

16.45

-19.27%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Bandarawela: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $99.0 in Bandarawela. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $25.00 in Bandarawela. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $258 – making Bandarawela 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

Ubud, Bali vs Bandarawela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, $575 in Bandarawela – roughly 147% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $862 in Bandarawela. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bandarawela, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $36.34 in Bandarawela. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bandarawela, where all-in costs run around $575, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Bandarawela it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $575 in Bandarawela to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Bandarawela. 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.