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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $496 in Jaffna, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $684 in Jaffna, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $872 in Jaffna, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 184% more than Jaffna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Jaffna is 63% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.1K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 581.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 87.1K

$5.09 LKR 1,712

-4.91%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

$3.43 LKR 1,152

-19.83%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.9K

$0.48 LKR 161

187.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.32 LKR 107

134.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.8K

$3.32 LKR 1,116

-9.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.2K

$6.84 LKR 2,300

-43.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.2K

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.2K

$0.50 LKR 168

392.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$0.71 LKR 237

64.79%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.7K

$1.58 LKR 531

53.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.6K

$4.99 LKR 1,676

190.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.2K

$3.43 LKR 1,154

26.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 215.3K

$6.55 LKR 2,200

82.90%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

$4.07 LKR 1,367

-8.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$0.52 LKR 173

213.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.3K

$3.41 LKR 1,147

-19.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

$1.63 LKR 549

37.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.5K

$1.11 LKR 374

72.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.9K

$0.78 LKR 263

192.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.69 LKR 231

53.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.44 LKR 146

63.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 59.0K

$12.96 LKR 4,355

-74.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.8K

$17.81 LKR 5,986

30.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$2.86 LKR 962

-2.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.1K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,786

$0.32 LKR 107

-15.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.7K

$3.33 LKR 1,118

143.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,675

$0.51 LKR 172

-5.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,545

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$1.02 LKR 342

-20.59%

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

$26.6K Rp 478.2M

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

$32.2K Rp 578.5M

$50.1K LKR 16.8M

-35.74%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$49.29 LKR 16.6K

58.96%

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

$4.07 Rp 73.1K

$3.27 LKR 1,099

24.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 437.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$6.59 LKR 2,216

1396.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.6K

$2.03 LKR 681

96.55%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 972.9K

$39.62 LKR 13.3K

36.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 679.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$165 LKR 55.4K

501.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$150 LKR 50.5K

347.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.7M

$247 LKR 83.1K

1265.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$215 LKR 72.3K

853.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 40.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Jaffna: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $165 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: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, $496 in Jaffna – roughly 184% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $744 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 144% less in Jaffna. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,408 in Ubud, Bali and $496 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 $496, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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 $496 in Jaffna to $1,408 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.