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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $524 in Ratnapura, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,582 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $845 in Ratnapura, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,757 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,166 in Ratnapura, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 168% more than Ratnapura, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Ratnapura is 61% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.42 Rp 58.7K

$2.22 LKR 704

54.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 Rp 566.5K

$10.13 LKR 3,208

225.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.08 Rp 87.3K

$6.73 LKR 2,132

-24.52%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 48.5K

$2.36 LKR 746

19.49%

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

$1.37 Rp 23.5K

$0.86 LKR 271

59.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 Rp 12.2K

$0.52 LKR 166

36.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 Rp 51.0K

$2.16 LKR 685

37.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 Rp 67.2K

$3.07 LKR 972

27.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 Rp 30.0K

$2.06 LKR 652

-15.05%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 43.2K

$0.81 LKR 256

211.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 Rp 20.8K

$0.67 LKR 211

80.60%

Eggs

$2.33 Rp 40.1K

$1.24 LKR 393

87.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 249.2K

$16.48 LKR 5,217

-12.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.36 Rp 74.9K

$6.96 LKR 2,204

-37.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.05 Rp 207.0K

$17.55 LKR 5,554

-31.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.82 Rp 65.6K

$4.81 LKR 1,521

-20.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

$0.83 LKR 264

93.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 Rp 46.5K

$4.74 LKR 1,502

-43.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 Rp 38.3K

$1.05 LKR 331

112.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 32.6K

$1.17 LKR 370

62.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 Rp 37.5K

$1.56 LKR 493

39.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 17.7K

$0.56 LKR 178

83.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.3K

$0.48 LKR 152

60.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 Rp 54.7K

$14.48 LKR 4,584

-78.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.23 Rp 399.2K

$13.40 LKR 4,241

73.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 Rp 48.9K

$2.31 LKR 732

23.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 Rp 46.7K

$3.09 LKR 977

-11.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,022

$0.39 LKR 123

-25.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.43 Rp 144.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,344

$0.41 LKR 130

19.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,812

$0.48 LKR 153

-6.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.28 Rp 107.8K

$0.32 LKR 100

1862.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 14.6K

$1.03 LKR 326

-17.48%

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

$26.1K Rp 447.8M

$22.0K LKR 7.0M

18.29%

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

$31.5K Rp 541.8M

$21.4K LKR 6.8M

47.23%

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

$79.8 Rp 1.4M

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

$4.09 Rp 70.3K

$2.20 LKR 697

85.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.06 Rp 413.6K

$7.85 LKR 2,484

206.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.2 Rp 1.7M

$10.07 LKR 3,188

855.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.53 Rp 112.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.13 Rp 71.1K

$2.60 LKR 824

58.85%

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

$297 Rp 5.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,661 Rp 114.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.0 Rp 944.5K

$11.70 LKR 3,703

369.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.75 Rp 666.0K

$8.17 LKR 2,585

374.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.6 Rp 1.5M

$93.5 LKR 29.6K

-4.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$28.36 LKR 8,975

178.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 Rp 17.5M

$84.4 LKR 26.7K

1106.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$660 Rp 11.3M

$61.4 LKR 19.4K

975.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,435 Rp 59.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,053 Rp 35.3M

$92.4 LKR 29.2K

2122.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,981 Rp 51.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,368 Rp 40.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 Rp 3.0M

$177 LKR 55.9K

-2.64%

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,018 in Ubud, Bali versus $84 in Ratnapura. 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 3% higher in Ratnapura, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33 in Ubud, Bali versus $10 in Ratnapura. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $299 vs $286 – making Ratnapura 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 Ratnapura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 168%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $787 in Ratnapura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ratnapura, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $10.00 in Ratnapura. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ratnapura, where all-in costs run around $524, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Ratnapura it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ratnapura – 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 Ratnapura. 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.