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 $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $667 in Kalmunai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,050 in Kalmunai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,433 in Kalmunai, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 109% more than Kalmunai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% 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 64.2K

$3.60 LKR 1,209

-0.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.32 Rp 581.3K

$18.62 LKR 6,244

73.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 Rp 90.0K

$7.39 LKR 2,478

-32.21%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 50.8K

$2.67 LKR 895

5.62%

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

$1.35 Rp 24.3K

$0.68 LKR 228

98.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.36 LKR 121

102.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Rp 52.8K

$2.27 LKR 763

29.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 Rp 70.8K

$3.41 LKR 1,142

15.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 Rp 32.0K

$1.71 LKR 573

4.09%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 44.1K

$0.55 LKR 186

345.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

$0.82 LKR 276

40.24%

Eggs

$2.41 Rp 43.4K

$1.90 LKR 637

26.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 Rp 257.7K

$14.20 LKR 4,761

0.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 Rp 75.3K

$4.56 LKR 1,530

-8.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.06 Rp 216.9K

$7.23 LKR 2,424

66.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 65.4K

$6.07 LKR 2,035

-40.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.2K

$1.06 LKR 356

48.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.1K

$3.59 LKR 1,205

-22.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

$1.24 LKR 417

80.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.6K

$1.10 LKR 369

80.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.0K

$1.01 LKR 338

125.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

$1.15 LKR 386

-8.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.60 LKR 200

31.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 Rp 57.4K

$9.28 LKR 3,113

-65.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 422.5K

$12.58 LKR 4,219

86.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.1K

$2.00 LKR 670

45.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 49.6K

$2.98 LKR 998

-7.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,795

$0.32 LKR 107

-15.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 150.5K

$6.80 LKR 2,279

23.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,136

$0.38 LKR 128

18.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,267

$0.33 LKR 110

39.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.2K

$0.57 LKR 192

964.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

$1.21 LKR 407

-28.93%

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

$26.6K Rp 478.2M

$27.3K LKR 9.1M

-2.46%

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

$32.5K Rp 585.4M

$35.0K LKR 11.7M

-7.05%

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

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

$59.8 LKR 20.0K

32.21%

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

$4.09 Rp 73.6K

$4.36 LKR 1,463

-6.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.85 Rp 428.9K

$12.82 LKR 4,298

86.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

$13.49 LKR 4,523

632.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.3K

$5.96 LKR 1,997

6.54%

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.1K

$3.41 LKR 1,143

17.60%

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

$297 Rp 5.3M

$30.45 LKR 10.2K

876.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,602 Rp 118.7M

$448 LKR 150.3K

1373.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 960.9K

$27.73 LKR 9,298

92.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 Rp 685.5K

$19.54 LKR 6,551

95.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

$64.0 LKR 21.5K

38.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

$36.69 LKR 12.3K

108.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 Rp 18.3M

$301 LKR 101.0K

238.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 Rp 12.2M

$143 LKR 48.0K

375.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,469 Rp 62.4M

$746 LKR 250.3K

364.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 Rp 37.6M

$333 LKR 111.6K

528.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 2.9M

$147 LKR 49.3K

11.22%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Kalmunai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $301 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 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $19.00 in Kalmunai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 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 109% 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 $2,088 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,000 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 $297 per month in Ubud, Bali and $30.45 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 $667, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. 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 $667 versus $1,392 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.