Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Dambulla

For one person, living is cheaper in Dambulla: $505 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $10,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Dambulla, Sri Lanka
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Dambulla
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
$505
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Dambulla

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Dambulla actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,349 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $505 in Dambulla, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,349
  • Dambulla $505

A couple spends around $2,305 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $818 in Dambulla, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,305
  • Dambulla $818

A family of three spends $3,261 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,131 in Dambulla, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,261
  • Dambulla $1,131

Ubud, Bali costs about 167% more than Dambulla, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Dambulla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 60.4K
$3.85 LKR 1,281
-13.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.64 Rp 647.8K
$25.00 LKR 8,311
42.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 Rp 100.6K
$7.66 LKR 2,546
-27.81%
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.4K
$2.47 LKR 821
10.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
$0.67 LKR 224
153.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
$0.27 LKR 89.9
181.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 48.2K
$2.27 LKR 753
16.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 Rp 79.6K
$2.93 LKR 975
49.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Dambulla
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 27.1K
$1.63 LKR 543
-8.59%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 Rp 41.4K
$0.56 LKR 188
307.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$0.77 LKR 254
54.55%
Eggs
$2.04 Rp 37.0K
$1.63 LKR 542
25.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.70 Rp 321.7K
$13.55 LKR 4,504
30.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 72.0K
$4.92 LKR 1,635
-19.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 Rp 221.6K
$7.30 LKR 2,428
66.99%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 66.4K
$6.47 LKR 2,152
-43.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.6K
$0.87 LKR 289
74.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
$4.33 LKR 1,441
-48.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.9K
$1.32 LKR 440
49.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.6K
$1.01 LKR 336
83.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 44.1K
$0.79 LKR 262
206.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
$0.87 LKR 289
13.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,332
$0.43 LKR 142
18.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 40.4K
$10.35 LKR 3,440
-78.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 404.2K
$12.67 LKR 4,214
75.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 41.1K
$1.89 LKR 627
19.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 54.0K
$2.93 LKR 974
1.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Dambulla
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,562
$0.07 LKR 23.76
257.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.82 Rp 142.2K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,989
$0.38 LKR 126
15.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,817
$0.38 LKR 125
13.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 Rp 98.3K
$0.87 LKR 289
521.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
$1.37 LKR 456
-40.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 433.3M
$43.7K LKR 14.5M
-45.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 577.0M
$41.0K LKR 13.6M
-22.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Dambulla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$59.8 LKR 19.9K
32.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 117.2K
$4.30 LKR 1,431
50.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.58 Rp 337.7K
$20.98 LKR 6,976
-11.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Dambulla
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 Rp 899.4K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 Rp 320.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 Rp 77.7K
$4.57 LKR 1,520
-6.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Dambulla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.9M
$37.27 LKR 12.4K
1216.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,674 Rp 103.1M
$1,199 LKR 398.5K
373.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Dambulla
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64 Rp 811.4K
$18.35 LKR 6,102
143.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 Rp 635.3K
$16.43 LKR 5,462
112.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.5M
$78.1 LKR 26.0K
2.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$41.03 LKR 13.6K
93.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Dambulla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 12.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,565 Rp 64.8M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,732 Rp 49.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 Rp 41.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Dambulla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
-
-
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: October 25, 2026

Last update for Dambulla: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$672
Dambulla
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$288
Dambulla
$234 18.8% $54
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Dambulla
$104 3% $3.3
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Dambulla
$69 35.6% $38
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$104
Dambulla
$85 18.3% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$58
Dambulla
$9.2 * 84.2% $49
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Dambulla
$2.5 * 77.8% $8.9

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36 in Ubud, Bali versus $25 in Dambulla. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $234 – making Dambulla the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇱🇰 Dambulla
🕒 Local time
06:10 6:10 AM
03:40 3:40 AM
2 h 30 min behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
68,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

LKR, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18,175 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.5 USD). 1 EUR = 20,233 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 332 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD). 1 EUR = 370 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.7 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Dambulla 4,250 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Dambulla

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Dambulla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ubud, Bali and in Dambulla compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, $505 in Dambulla – Dambulla comes out roughly 63% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Dambulla?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,023 per month in Ubud, Bali and $757 in Dambulla. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $36 in Ubud, Bali and $25 in Dambulla. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 23% more in Ubud, Bali, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Dambulla, where all-in costs run around $505, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,349. In Dambulla it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Dambulla?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $505 in Dambulla to $1,349 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Ubud, Bali or Dambulla safer for residents?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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