Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Kalmunai

For one person, living is cheaper in Kalmunai: $512 a month against $1,331 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $9,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Kalmunai, Sri Lanka
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,331
/mo nomad
Kalmunai
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
$512
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Kalmunai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Kalmunai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,331 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $512 in Kalmunai, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,331
  • Kalmunai $512

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $831 in Kalmunai, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,255
  • Kalmunai $831

A family of three spends $3,180 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,151 in Kalmunai, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,180
  • Kalmunai $1,151

Ubud, Bali costs about 160% more than Kalmunai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Ubud, Bali and Kalmunai are more affordable than the global median – Ubud, Bali 2% lower, Kalmunai 62% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Kalmunai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.38 Rp 61.0K
$3.90 LKR 1,298
-13.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.65 Rp 626.3K
$24.74 LKR 8,225
40.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.57 Rp 100.7K
$7.35 LKR 2,443
-24.22%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.3K
$2.49 LKR 827
5.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 Rp 27.8K
$0.72 LKR 239
113.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 Rp 11.6K
$0.25 LKR 82.9
156.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.67 Rp 48.2K
$2.19 LKR 727
21.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 Rp 77.1K
$2.92 LKR 972
45.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Kalmunai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 Rp 26.4K
$1.57 LKR 521
-7.01%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 Rp 41.4K
$0.57 LKR 188
301.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 20.0K
$0.76 LKR 254
46.05%
Eggs
$2.10 Rp 38.0K
$1.71 LKR 568
22.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 Rp 288.1K
$15.45 LKR 5,139
3.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 Rp 70.2K
$5.07 LKR 1,687
-23.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.40 Rp 206.1K
$7.67 LKR 2,551
48.63%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 64.2K
$6.62 LKR 2,201
-46.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 27.8K
$0.81 LKR 271
90.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.3K
$4.32 LKR 1,438
-48.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.6K
$1.32 LKR 440
49.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 Rp 33.6K
$1.09 LKR 361
70.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 43.7K
$0.82 LKR 272
195.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.5K
$1.21 LKR 404
-15.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,441
$0.46 LKR 153
13.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.20 Rp 39.7K
$10.13 LKR 3,367
-78.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.79 Rp 393.8K
$13.45 LKR 4,471
62.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 Rp 42.0K
$1.91 LKR 634
21.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.7K
$2.94 LKR 978
1.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Kalmunai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,526
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 147.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,912
$0.41 LKR 135
7.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,458
$0.33 LKR 110
42.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 101.2K
$0.91 LKR 304
515.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$1.33 LKR 442
-37.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K Rp 441.9M
$43.7K LKR 14.5M
-44.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 572.9M
$46.3K LKR 15.4M
-31.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Kalmunai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
$57.5 LKR 19.1K
34.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.14 Rp 111.1K
$4.29 LKR 1,427
43.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.92 Rp 341.9K
$20.56 LKR 6,836
-7.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Kalmunai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 Rp 921.7K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.25 Rp 329.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 79.2K
$4.45 LKR 1,478
-1.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Kalmunai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$492 Rp 8.9M
$40.92 LKR 13.6K
1103.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K Rp 220.9M
$17.0K LKR 5.7M
-28.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Kalmunai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.16 Rp 816.3K
$17.70 LKR 5,886
155.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.89 Rp 630.6K
$17.18 LKR 5,712
103.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
$78.6 LKR 26.1K
-0.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$41.74 LKR 13.9K
86.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Kalmunai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 Rp 19.5M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 Rp 12.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,510 Rp 63.4M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,671 Rp 30.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,340 Rp 42.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,236 Rp 40.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Kalmunai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$150 LKR 49.9K
10.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
12.5
10.24%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: November 1, 2026

Last update for Kalmunai: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$665
Kalmunai
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$279
Kalmunai
$245 12.2% $34
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$106
Kalmunai
$70 34.3% $36
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Kalmunai
$104 1.9% $2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$103
Kalmunai
$82 19.7% $20
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$60
Kalmunai
$8.9 * 85.1% $51
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Kalmunai
$2.1 * 82.8% $9.9

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 11% 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 $35 in Ubud, Bali versus $25 in Kalmunai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $279 vs $245 – making Kalmunai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇱🇰 Kalmunai
🕒 Local time
22:56 10:56 PM
20:26 8:26 PM
2 h 30 min behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
25,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

LKR, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 18,075 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.53 USD). 1 EUR = 20,311 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.92 EUR).

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 333 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD). 1 EUR = 374 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.68 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Kalmunai 4,110 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Kalmunai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Kalmunai?
Ubud, Bali costs about 160% more than Kalmunai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from leisure. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Kalmunai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,996 per month in Ubud, Bali and $768 in Kalmunai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Kalmunai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,331 in Ubud, Bali and $512 in Kalmunai. That makes Kalmunai about 62% cheaper.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Kalmunai?
Kindergarten costs $492 per month in Ubud, Bali and $41 in Kalmunai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Ubud, Bali or in Kalmunai?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Kalmunai, where all-in costs run around $512, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,331. In Kalmunai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ubud, Bali or Kalmunai?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $512 in Kalmunai to $1,331 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Should I move to Ubud, Bali or to Kalmunai?
If budget matters most, go with Kalmunai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

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