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 $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $664 in Kalmunai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,050 in Kalmunai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,436 in Kalmunai, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 112% more than Kalmunai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Kalmunai is 51% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

$3.51 LKR 1,169

1.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$18.11 LKR 6,040

79.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$7.24 LKR 2,414

-32.87%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$2.64 LKR 880

4.17%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$0.73 LKR 244

80.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.39 LKR 129

79.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$2.28 LKR 760

27.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$3.38 LKR 1,126

12.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$1.75 LKR 583

-2.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$0.57 LKR 189

333.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$0.78 LKR 259

53.85%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$1.92 LKR 641

27.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$13.89 LKR 4,633

3.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$4.63 LKR 1,544

-6.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

$7.35 LKR 2,451

66.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$6.10 LKR 2,034

-39.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$1.06 LKR 355

46.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$3.55 LKR 1,184

-21.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$1.26 LKR 420

84.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$1.14 LKR 382

72.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$1.00 LKR 334

131.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$1.20 LKR 401

-11.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.56 LKR 188

30.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$9.12 LKR 3,044

-64.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$12.80 LKR 4,268

78.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$2.00 LKR 666

40.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$2.89 LKR 963

-3.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$0.35 LKR 115

-17.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

$6.55 LKR 2,185

23.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$0.39 LKR 129

15.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

$0.36 LKR 118

25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$0.62 LKR 206

906.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$1.20 LKR 401

-29.17%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$27.1K LKR 9.0M

-4.22%

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$35.0K LKR 11.7M

-9.56%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$59.1 LKR 19.7K

36.75%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$4.22 LKR 1,408

-3.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$12.52 LKR 4,176

95.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$13.15 LKR 4,387

642.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

$5.79 LKR 1,932

11.40%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$3.37 LKR 1,126

19.88%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$30.33 LKR 10.1K

902.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$446 LKR 148.7K

1385.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$27.90 LKR 9,308

94.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$19.07 LKR 6,360

103.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$64.4 LKR 21.5K

33.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$37.16 LKR 12.4K

106.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$298 LKR 99.5K

230.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$144 LKR 48.1K

356.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$754 LKR 251.6K

346.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$329 LKR 109.8K

527.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$150 LKR 49.9K

9.23%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Kalmunai: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $298 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: $297 vs $236 – 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 112% 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 $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $996 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 $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $30.33 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 $664, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. 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 $664 versus $1,404 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.