Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $734 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,153 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,572 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 93% more than Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is 45% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

$4.12 LKR 1,375

-13.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

$24.76 LKR 8,258

32.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

$8.48 LKR 2,828

-41.63%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

$2.67 LKR 889

1.50%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

$0.75 LKR 249

78.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.38 LKR 126

84.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

$2.28 LKR 762

28.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

$3.29 LKR 1,098

20.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

$1.50 LKR 499

20.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

$0.53 LKR 176

375.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

$0.85 LKR 285

36.47%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$2.13 LKR 709

15.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

$10.28 LKR 3,429

43.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

$4.55 LKR 1,516

-5.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

$5.85 LKR 1,951

107.52%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

$6.17 LKR 2,058

-37.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

$1.11 LKR 370

40.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

$5.71 LKR 1,905

-50.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

$1.25 LKR 417

86.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

$1.01 LKR 336

89.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

$0.93 LKR 310

136.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

$1.14 LKR 382

-11.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$0.50 LKR 166

56.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

$8.46 LKR 2,821

-60.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

$12.57 LKR 4,191

88.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

$1.47 LKR 489

89.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

$1.81 LKR 604

58.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,819

$0.32 LKR 106

-15.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

$10.23 LKR 3,412

-21.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,181

$0.34 LKR 115

35.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,068

$0.35 LKR 117

28.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

$0.44 LKR 145

1286.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.27 LKR 422

-37.80%

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

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

$27.2K LKR 9.1M

-3.92%

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

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

$34.4K LKR 11.5M

-6.60%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$30.64 LKR 10.2K

160.90%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

$4.22 LKR 1,407

-3.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

$14.91 LKR 4,972

57.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$21.06 LKR 7,024

368.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

$3.42 LKR 1,142

21.35%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$36.74 LKR 12.3K

727.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

$433 LKR 144.4K

1427.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

$28.02 LKR 9,344

98.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

$19.05 LKR 6,354

101.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$69.0 LKR 23.0K

28.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$38.31 LKR 12.8K

103.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$335 LKR 111.7K

200.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$254 LKR 84.6K

166.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

$512 LKR 170.8K

571.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

$418 LKR 139.3K

388.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

$686 LKR 228.7K

314.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

$528 LKR 176.1K

328.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$303 LKR 100.9K

-45.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

-11.47%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $335 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. 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 83% higher in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $25.00 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $221 – making Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 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 Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 93%, 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 $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,100 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 27% less in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $36.74 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, where all-in costs run around $734, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte – 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 Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. 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.