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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $499 in Jaffna, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $699 in Jaffna, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $900 in Jaffna, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 185% more than Jaffna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Jaffna is 63% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

$4.93 LKR 1,645

0.41%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

$3.32 LKR 1,107

-18.37%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

$0.52 LKR 173

157.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.34 LKR 114

105.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

$3.44 LKR 1,146

-15.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

$6.61 LKR 2,206

-40.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

$0.50 LKR 167

404.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

$0.67 LKR 222

73.13%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$1.65 LKR 550

49.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

$4.96 LKR 1,655

196.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

$3.47 LKR 1,158

24.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

$6.60 LKR 2,200

83.94%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

$4.12 LKR 1,374

-6.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

$0.57 LKR 189

173.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

$3.25 LKR 1,084

-12.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

$1.70 LKR 566

37.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

$1.12 LKR 373

70.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

$0.78 LKR 259

182.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

$0.65 LKR 217

55.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$0.41 LKR 135

90.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

$12.80 LKR 4,270

-74.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

$17.84 LKR 5,948

33.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

$2.86 LKR 953

-2.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,819

$0.32 LKR 106

-15.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

$3.43 LKR 1,143

134.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,181

$0.51 LKR 170

-9.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,068

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.01 LKR 338

-21.78%

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

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

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

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

$51.2K LKR 17.1M

-37.28%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$50.8 LKR 16.9K

57.46%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

$3.37 LKR 1,124

20.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$6.81 LKR 2,270

1349.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

$1.95 LKR 651

112.82%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

$40.42 LKR 13.5K

37.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$167 LKR 55.6K

503.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$152 LKR 50.7K

344.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

$254 LKR 84.8K

1253.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

$217 LKR 72.5K

837.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Jaffna: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $167 in Jaffna. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 Jaffna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, $499 in Jaffna – roughly 185% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $748 in Jaffna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 134% less in Jaffna. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $499 in Jaffna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Jaffna, where all-in costs run around $499, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Jaffna 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 Jaffna 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 Jaffna. 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.