Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Puttalam Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Puttalam

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $89.6 in Puttalam, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $127 in Puttalam, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $165 in Puttalam, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 1454% more than Puttalam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Puttalam is 93% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.5K

$1.66 LKR 556

115.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.32 Rp 583.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

$5.08 LKR 1,705

-1.38%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 51.0K

$1.37 LKR 460

105.84%

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

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

$1.32 LKR 443

2.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

$0.35 LKR 116

108.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

$5.07 LKR 1,702

-42.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 Rp 71.1K

$6.75 LKR 2,265

-41.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 Rp 32.1K

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 44.2K

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

Eggs

$2.41 Rp 43.6K

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 Rp 258.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.06 Rp 217.7K

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 65.7K

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.7K

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.1K

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 Rp 57.6K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 424.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.3K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 49.7K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,813

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 151.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,167

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,298

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

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

$26.6K Rp 480.0M

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

$32.5K Rp 587.6M

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

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

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

$4.09 Rp 73.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.85 Rp 430.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.3K

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

$297 Rp 5.4M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,602 Rp 119.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 964.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 Rp 688.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 Rp 12.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,469 Rp 62.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 Rp 37.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Last update for Puttalam: July 27, 2026

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 Puttalam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 1454%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,088 per month in Ubud, Bali and $134 in Puttalam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Puttalam, where all-in costs run around $89.6, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. In Puttalam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Puttalam – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Puttalam. 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.