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 $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $519 in Kalmunai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $830 in Kalmunai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,140 in Kalmunai, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 164% more than Kalmunai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Kalmunai is 62% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 61.0K

$4.47 LKR 1,479

-23.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 644.2K

$26.39 LKR 8,726

37.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.2K

$7.85 LKR 2,595

-27.26%

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.4K

$2.52 LKR 833

5.95%

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

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

$0.68 LKR 224

157.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.5K

$0.25 LKR 82.1

248.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.4K

$2.29 LKR 759

28.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.2K

$3.10 LKR 1,024

45.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$1.63 LKR 540

-0.61%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$0.53 LKR 174

339.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

$0.77 LKR 254

44.16%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

$1.59 LKR 524

38.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 313.9K

$13.44 LKR 4,444

31.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.7K

$4.99 LKR 1,650

-17.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 216.0K

$7.12 LKR 2,354

71.07%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.8K

$6.87 LKR 2,272

-46.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.2K

$0.82 LKR 272

93.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.5K

$4.39 LKR 1,451

-48.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.7K

$1.24 LKR 409

57.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.8K

$1.06 LKR 349

80.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

$0.81 LKR 267

187.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

$0.95 LKR 315

6.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,791

$0.46 LKR 152

19.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.6K

$10.41 LKR 3,441

-78.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 409.3K

$13.48 LKR 4,456

71.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.9K

$1.91 LKR 630

26.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.2K

$2.77 LKR 916

8.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,823

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,582

$0.39 LKR 127

23.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,693

$0.39 LKR 128

10.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 100.1K

$0.94 LKR 310

500.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

$1.32 LKR 437

-39.39%

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

$24.9K Rp 442.5M

$29.9K LKR 9.9M

-16.54%

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

$31.7K Rp 562.6M

$42.4K LKR 14.0M

-25.17%

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$54.7 LKR 18.1K

48.89%

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

$6.49 Rp 115.2K

$4.19 LKR 1,385

54.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 333.0K

$20.73 LKR 6,853

-9.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 332.3K

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.5K

$4.54 LKR 1,500

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

$38.59 LKR 12.8K

1145.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.3M

$1,243 LKR 411.1K

359.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 807.5K

$20.26 LKR 6,698

124.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 636.6K

$16.71 LKR 5,526

114.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$79.4 LKR 26.2K

1.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$42.92 LKR 14.2K

83.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

$154 LKR 50.8K

9.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

12.69

8.59%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Kalmunai: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $26.00 in Kalmunai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 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 164% more than Kalmunai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $778 in Kalmunai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,368 in Ubud, Bali and $519 in Kalmunai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $481 per month in Ubud, Bali and $38.59 in Kalmunai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kalmunai, where all-in costs run around $519, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. 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 $519 versus $1,368 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.