🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $531 in Vavuniya versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $838 in Vavuniya versus $2,557 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,146 in Vavuniya versus $3,723 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Vavuniya costs roughly 62% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Vavuniya is 60% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.05LKR 1,358
$3.57Rp 64.5K
13.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.49LKR 5,535
$32.32Rp 583.4K
-48.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.45LKR 2,834
$5.01Rp 90.4K
68.66%
Cappuccino
$2.63LKR 881
$2.82Rp 51.0K
-6.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41LKR 138
$1.35Rp 24.4K
-69.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32LKR 106
$0.73Rp 13.2K
-56.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.36LKR 792
$2.93Rp 53.0K
-19.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29LKR 1,104
$3.94Rp 71.1K
-16.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77LKR 593
$1.78Rp 32.1K
-0.56%
White Bread(500g)
$0.51LKR 173
$2.45Rp 44.2K
-79.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.80LKR 268
$1.15Rp 20.7K
-30.43%
Eggs
$2.18LKR 732
$2.41Rp 43.6K
-9.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.28LKR 4,792
$14.33Rp 258.7K
-0.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.76LKR 1,598
$4.19Rp 75.6K
13.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.23LKR 2,760
$12.06Rp 217.7K
-31.76%
Apples(1kg)
$7.45LKR 2,500
$3.64Rp 65.7K
104.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.12LKR 376
$1.57Rp 28.3K
-28.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.95LKR 1,996
$2.79Rp 50.3K
113.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.25LKR 420
$2.24Rp 40.5K
-44.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15LKR 386
$1.98Rp 35.7K
-41.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.43LKR 480
$2.28Rp 41.1K
-37.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14LKR 384
$1.05Rp 19.0K
8.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61LKR 203
$0.79Rp 14.2K
-22.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.15LKR 3,405
$3.19Rp 57.6K
218.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.74LKR 4,274
$23.49Rp 424.1K
-45.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11LKR 708
$2.90Rp 52.3K
-27.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93LKR 983
$2.76Rp 49.7K
6.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.27Rp 4,813
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.37Rp 151.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.38LKR 128
$0.45Rp 8,167
-15.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33LKR 111
$0.46Rp 8,298
-28.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.61LKR 206
$6.07Rp 109.6K
-89.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26LKR 422
$0.86Rp 15.6K
46.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8KLKR 9.0M
$26.6KRp 480.0M
0.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KLKR 11.6M
$32.5KRp 587.6M
5.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.9LKR 20.4K
$79.0Rp 1.4M
-22.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.21LKR 1,413
$4.09Rp 73.9K
2.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.34LKR 5,146
$23.85Rp 430.5K
-35.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$98.8Rp 1.8M
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.35Rp 114.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.32LKR 1,114
$4.01Rp 72.3K
-17.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$36.13LKR 12.1K
$297Rp 5.4M
-87.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$434LKR 145.7K
$6,602Rp 119.2M
-93.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.41LKR 9,196
$53.4Rp 964.5K
-48.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.23LKR 6,453
$38.11Rp 688.1K
-49.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.7LKR 23.7K
$88.7Rp 1.6M
-20.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.66LKR 13.0K
$76.6Rp 1.4M
-49.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,020Rp 18.4M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$680Rp 12.3M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,469Rp 62.6M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,090Rp 37.7M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,729Rp 49.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,295Rp 41.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$164Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.45
13.28
23.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vavuniya: July 27, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $16.00 in Vavuniya vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $260 vs $298 per month, with Vavuniya cheaper across the board.
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
Vavuniya vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Vavuniya or Ubud, Bali?
Vavuniya wins on cost – living expenses run 162% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Vavuniya the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Vavuniya and in Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $796 in Vavuniya and $2,088 in Ubud, Bali 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.
Are groceries more expensive in Vavuniya or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Vavuniya compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $531 per month in Vavuniya versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali – a 162% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Vavuniya or in Ubud, Bali?
At $531 in Vavuniya versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Vavuniya but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Vavuniya the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Vavuniya or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Vavuniya delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $531 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Vavuniya hard to pass up.
How safe is Vavuniya compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Vavuniya and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Vavuniya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 162% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.