Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Kalutara

For one person, living is cheaper in Kalutara: $612 a month against $1,331 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $8,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Kalutara, Sri Lanka
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,331
/mo nomad
Kalutara
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
$612
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Kalutara actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,331 in Ubud, Bali versus $612 in Kalutara.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,331
  • Kalutara $612

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Ubud, Bali versus $896 in Kalutara.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,255
  • Kalutara $896

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,180 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,179 in Kalutara.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,180
  • Kalutara $1,179

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 117% more expensive than in Kalutara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ubud, Bali 2% lower, Kalutara 55% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Kalutara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.38 Rp 60.9K
$3.86 LKR 1,285
-12.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.65 Rp 625.4K
$24.82 LKR 8,252
39.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.57 Rp 100.6K
$7.38 LKR 2,453
-24.53%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.3K
$2.43 LKR 807
7.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 Rp 27.8K
$0.68 LKR 228
126.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 Rp 11.6K
$0.25 LKR 82.5
156.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.67 Rp 48.1K
$2.26 LKR 752
18.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 Rp 76.9K
$2.98 LKR 991
42.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Kalutara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 Rp 26.4K
$1.62 LKR 537
-9.88%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 Rp 41.4K
$0.54 LKR 179
324.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 20.0K
$0.75 LKR 249
48.00%
Eggs
$2.10 Rp 37.9K
$1.68 LKR 560
25.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 Rp 287.7K
$15.02 LKR 4,994
6.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 Rp 70.1K
$4.98 LKR 1,655
-22.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.40 Rp 205.8K
$7.47 LKR 2,485
52.61%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 64.1K
$6.67 LKR 2,216
-46.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 27.7K
$0.87 LKR 290
77.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.2K
$4.10 LKR 1,363
-45.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.6K
$1.33 LKR 441
48.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 Rp 33.5K
$1.08 LKR 358
72.22%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 43.6K
$0.84 LKR 279
188.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.5K
$1.21 LKR 402
-15.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,427
$0.46 LKR 152
13.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.20 Rp 39.7K
$10.41 LKR 3,460
-78.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.79 Rp 393.2K
$13.48 LKR 4,483
61.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 Rp 42.0K
$1.95 LKR 649
19.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.6K
$2.95 LKR 980
0.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Kalutara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,519
$0.13 LKR 44.22
92.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 147.5K
$9.00 LKR 2,993
-9.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,901
$0.37 LKR 123
18.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,446
$0.18 LKR 58.6
161.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 101.1K
$0.94 LKR 313
495.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
$1.38 LKR 459
-39.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K Rp 441.3M
$44.4K LKR 14.8M
-44.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 572.1M
$44.8K LKR 14.9M
-29.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Kalutara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
$56.8 LKR 18.9K
36.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.14 Rp 110.9K
$4.19 LKR 1,393
46.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.92 Rp 341.4K
$21.12 LKR 7,023
-10.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Kalutara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 Rp 920.4K
$9.19 LKR 3,056
454.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.25 Rp 329.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 79.1K
$4.61 LKR 1,533
-4.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Kalutara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$492 Rp 8.9M
$40.52 LKR 13.5K
1115.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K Rp 220.6M
$17.1K LKR 5.7M
-28.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Kalutara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.16 Rp 815.1K
$17.99 LKR 5,980
151.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.89 Rp 629.7K
$17.26 LKR 5,740
102.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
$77.9 LKR 25.9K
0.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$40.87 LKR 13.6K
90.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Kalutara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 Rp 19.4M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 Rp 12.0M
$85.5 LKR 28.4K
677.56%
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 42.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,236 Rp 40.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Kalutara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
-
-
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 Kalutara: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$665
Kalutara
$86 87.1% $579
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$279
Kalutara
$243 13% $36
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$106
Kalutara
$69 34.8% $37
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Kalutara
$103 2.4% $2.6
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$103
Kalutara
$82 19.9% $20
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$60
Kalutara
$18 69.2% $41
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Kalutara
$11 9.8% $1.2

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $35 in Ubud, Bali vs $25 in Kalutara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $279 vs $243 per month, with Kalutara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇱🇰 Kalutara
🕒 Local time
00:04 12:04 AM
21:34 9:34 PM
2 h 30 min behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
39,600
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

LKR, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18,049 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.54 USD). 1 EUR = 20,271 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.93 EUR).

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 333 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD). 1 EUR = 373 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.68 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Kalutara 4,260 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Kalutara

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 Kalutara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Kalutara?
Kalutara wins on cost – living expenses run 54% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Kalutara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Kalutara?
You’d need roughly $1,996 in Ubud, Bali and $919 in Kalutara to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali compared to Kalutara?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 9% less than in Kalutara. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Kalutara?
Childcare runs $492 in Ubud, Bali versus $41 in Kalutara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $800/month in Ubud, Bali or in Kalutara?
At $612 in Kalutara versus $1,331 in Ubud, Bali, a $800 budget is realistic in Kalutara but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Kalutara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ubud, Bali or Kalutara?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Kalutara?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Kalutara are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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