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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $665 in Kalmunai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,063 in Kalmunai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,460 in Kalmunai, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 116% more than Kalmunai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Kalmunai is 50% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.6K

$3.58 LKR 1,141

-0.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 562.6K

$18.30 LKR 5,832

78.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.5K

$7.13 LKR 2,272

-28.89%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 48.8K

$2.66 LKR 847

6.39%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.1K

$0.68 LKR 217

97.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.36 LKR 113

91.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.6K

$2.31 LKR 736

29.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.4K

$3.33 LKR 1,059

15.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.1K

$1.76 LKR 559

-1.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 43.8K

$0.52 LKR 167

388.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$0.82 LKR 262

45.12%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 41.9K

$1.98 LKR 632

22.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 253.2K

$14.00 LKR 4,460

4.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.1K

$4.77 LKR 1,521

-12.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.1K

$7.44 LKR 2,371

60.48%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.6K

$5.97 LKR 1,901

-38.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

$1.06 LKR 337

51.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.4K

$3.60 LKR 1,147

-25.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.2K

$1.22 LKR 388

90.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 32.9K

$1.11 LKR 353

72.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.7K

$0.95 LKR 302

130.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$1.19 LKR 378

-10.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$0.60 LKR 190

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.1K

$9.04 LKR 2,881

-65.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 405.6K

$12.52 LKR 3,988

87.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.3K

$2.06 LKR 656

33.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.7K

$2.96 LKR 943

-2.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,010

$0.35 LKR 110

-17.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.0K

$6.66 LKR 2,122

22.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,834

$0.42 LKR 133

7.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,278

$0.35 LKR 113

20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.3K

$0.57 LKR 183

980.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.5K

$1.26 LKR 401

-33.33%

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

$26.2K Rp 453.1M

$26.3K LKR 8.4M

-0.28%

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

$32.5K Rp 560.8M

$34.7K LKR 11.0M

-6.34%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$59.2 LKR 18.9K

32.49%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.2K

$4.35 LKR 1,386

-9.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 421.4K

$12.74 LKR 4,059

91.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$13.35 LKR 4,254

623.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 109.6K

$5.88 LKR 1,874

7.99%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 69.7K

$3.34 LKR 1,063

20.96%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$29.71 LKR 9,466

918.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 112.6M

$442 LKR 140.9K

1374.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 929.5K

$27.63 LKR 8,804

94.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 655.8K

$19.02 LKR 6,060

99.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$63.3 LKR 20.2K

37.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$36.14 LKR 11.5K

118.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$296 LKR 94.4K

241.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.6M

$143 LKR 45.7K

370.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.5M

$759 LKR 241.9K

346.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.2M

$333 LKR 106.0K

530.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$159 LKR 50.7K

8.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

-17.00%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Kalmunai: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $296 in Kalmunai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 9% higher in Ubud, Bali, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $18.00 in Kalmunai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $237 – making Kalmunai 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 Kalmunai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 116% more than Kalmunai, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $998 in Kalmunai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Ubud, Bali and $29.71 in Kalmunai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kalmunai, where all-in costs run around $665, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In Kalmunai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kalmunai costs $665 versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Kalmunai. 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.