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 $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $499 in Bandarawela, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $803 in Bandarawela, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,275 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,106 in Bandarawela, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 176% more than Bandarawela, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Bandarawela is 64% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

$1.34 LKR 439

148.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

$26.43 LKR 8,685

35.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

$7.76 LKR 2,549

-27.45%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

$1.48 LKR 488

90.54%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$0.64 LKR 210

173.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$0.27 LKR 88.8

196.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

$2.19 LKR 721

38.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$2.50 LKR 822

72.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

$1.65 LKR 541

-2.42%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

$0.36 LKR 117

530.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

$0.61 LKR 201

91.80%

Eggs

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

$1.08 LKR 355

100.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

$13.06 LKR 4,292

34.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

$3.60 LKR 1,182

12.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

$7.30 LKR 2,399

66.85%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

$6.74 LKR 2,215

-46.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

$0.59 LKR 194

177.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

$4.38 LKR 1,440

-47.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

$1.23 LKR 405

59.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

$0.89 LKR 293

106.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

$0.57 LKR 187

315.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

$0.88 LKR 290

19.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,560

$0.48 LKR 159

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

$9.65 LKR 3,172

-76.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

$13.56 LKR 4,455

70.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$1.95 LKR 642

20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

$2.89 LKR 950

6.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

$0.14 LKR 46.58

78.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

$1.50 LKR 492

528.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,631

$0.39 LKR 127

25.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

$0.29 LKR 94.8

62.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

$0.48 LKR 156

1066.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

$0.91 LKR 301

-10.99%

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

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

$30.4K LKR 10.0M

-17.80%

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

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

$42.0K LKR 13.8M

-26.03%

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

$54.6 LKR 17.9K

51.50%

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

$3.39 LKR 1,114

91.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

$6.03 LKR 1,982

211.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

$6.20 LKR 2,036

790.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

$4.58 LKR 1,506

297.60%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$2.50 LKR 822

72.00%

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

$37.96 LKR 12.5K

1201.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

$1,236 LKR 406.3K

378.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

$19.90 LKR 6,538

132.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

$16.75 LKR 5,505

117.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$80.5 LKR 26.5K

0.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

$43.25 LKR 14.2K

82.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

$89.7 LKR 29.5K

1141.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

$45.92 LKR 15.1K

1409.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

$124 LKR 40.9K

2826.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

$59.8 LKR 19.6K

2764.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 2.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

12.69

8.59%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Bandarawela: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $89.7 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $26.00 in Bandarawela. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $223 – 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: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, $499 in Bandarawela – roughly 176% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,067 per month in Ubud, Bali and $748 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 $494 per month in Ubud, Bali and $37.96 in Bandarawela. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% 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 $499, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. 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 $499 in Bandarawela to $1,378 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.