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 $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $90.5 in Puttalam, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $127 in Puttalam, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $163 in Puttalam, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 1452% more than Puttalam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% 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 64.0K

$1.66 LKR 553

115.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$5.16 LKR 1,720

-5.81%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$1.36 LKR 453

102.21%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$1.32 LKR 439

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.32 LKR 107

118.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$4.93 LKR 1,644

-40.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$6.58 LKR 2,194

-42.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Puttalam: June 8, 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 1452%, 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 $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $136 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 $90.5, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. 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.