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 $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $497 in Jaffna, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $794 in Jaffna, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,273 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,090 in Jaffna, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 181% more than Jaffna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 2% above the global median, while Jaffna is 64% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.37 Rp 59.5K

$1.05 LKR 345

220.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.59 Rp 680.3K

$39.85 LKR 13.1K

-3.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 Rp 97.3K

$4.70 LKR 1,541

17.45%

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 46.6K

$3.26 LKR 1,069

-19.02%

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

$1.67 Rp 29.5K

$1.70 LKR 559

-1.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$0.52 LKR 171

48.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 Rp 46.4K

$3.54 LKR 1,161

-25.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

$6.04 LKR 1,981

-29.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

$0.72 LKR 236

115.28%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 Rp 39.2K

$0.45 LKR 148

393.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 Rp 19.8K

$0.59 LKR 195

91.53%

Eggs

$2.09 Rp 36.8K

$1.43 LKR 469

46.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 Rp 306.6K

$4.63 LKR 1,520

275.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 Rp 68.2K

$3.28 LKR 1,075

17.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.55 Rp 221.2K

$6.05 LKR 1,985

107.44%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.8K

$3.64 LKR 1,194

-0.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.5K

$0.50 LKR 164

212.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 Rp 41.5K

$3.00 LKR 985

-21.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 Rp 36.2K

$1.56 LKR 512

32.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 33.5K

$1.03 LKR 336

84.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$0.63 LKR 208

271.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

$0.60 LKR 196

71.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,779

$0.39 LKR 129

41.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 39.7K

$11.62 LKR 3,811

-80.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 419.7K

$18.23 LKR 5,982

30.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 Rp 40.8K

$2.54 LKR 835

-9.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 Rp 49.4K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,802

$0.29 LKR 95.0

-6.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 152.7K

$3.13 LKR 1,028

176.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,489

$0.45 LKR 146

6.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$0.23 LKR 75.2

95.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.72 Rp 100.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

$1.23 LKR 402

-38.21%

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

$24.5K Rp 431.6M

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

$32.1K Rp 566.3M

$45.7K LKR 15.0M

-29.76%

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

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

$45.93 LKR 15.1K

81.91%

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

$6.46 Rp 113.8K

$3.07 LKR 1,008

110.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.99 Rp 334.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 Rp 986.8K

$5.92 LKR 1,943

845.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 328.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

$1.81 LKR 594

136.46%

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

$487 Rp 8.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,856 Rp 103.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.56 Rp 803.2K

$37.00 LKR 12.1K

23.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.38 Rp 641.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

$152 LKR 49.8K

635.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 Rp 12.4M

$137 LKR 45.1K

410.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,537 Rp 62.4M

$224 LKR 73.5K

1477.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,762 Rp 31.1M

$195 LKR 64.0K

802.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 49.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for Jaffna: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $152 in Jaffna. 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $40.00 in Jaffna. Groceries tell a different story – $293 in Ubud, Bali vs $170 in Jaffna – so Jaffna wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, $497 in Jaffna – roughly 181% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,095 per month in Ubud, Bali and $746 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 177% less in Jaffna. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 72% 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 Jaffna, where all-in costs run around $497, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. 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 $497 in Jaffna to $1,396 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.