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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $507 in Vavuniya versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $799 in Vavuniya versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,091 in Vavuniya versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Vavuniya costs roughly 63% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Vavuniya is 63% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.53 LKR 1,498
$3.44 Rp 61.0K
31.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.02 LKR 4,966
$36.31 Rp 644.2K
-58.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.78 LKR 2,571
$5.71 Rp 101.2K
36.25%
Cappuccino
$2.48 LKR 820
$2.67 Rp 47.4K
-7.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 LKR 141
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
-75.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 LKR 89.5
$0.87 Rp 15.5K
-68.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.18 LKR 719
$2.95 Rp 52.4K
-26.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 LKR 1,012
$4.52 Rp 80.2K
-32.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 LKR 538
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
0.62%
White Bread (500g)
$0.57 LKR 190
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
-75.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.80 LKR 265
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
-27.93%
Eggs
$1.60 LKR 530
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
-27.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.27 LKR 4,387
$17.69 Rp 313.9K
-24.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.14 LKR 1,701
$4.10 Rp 72.7K
25.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.17 LKR 2,370
$12.18 Rp 216.0K
-41.13%
Apples (1kg)
$6.86 LKR 2,267
$3.71 Rp 65.8K
84.91%
Banana (1kg)
$0.82 LKR 272
$1.59 Rp 28.2K
-48.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.32 LKR 1,428
$2.28 Rp 40.5K
89.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.24 LKR 410
$1.95 Rp 34.7K
-36.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 LKR 344
$1.91 Rp 33.8K
-45.55%
Onion (1kg)
$0.76 LKR 251
$2.33 Rp 41.4K
-67.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 LKR 315
$1.01 Rp 17.9K
-5.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 LKR 148
$0.55 Rp 9,791
-18.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.45 LKR 3,456
$2.23 Rp 39.6K
368.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.74 LKR 4,543
$23.07 Rp 409.3K
-40.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 LKR 633
$2.42 Rp 42.9K
-20.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 LKR 937
$3.00 Rp 53.2K
-5.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.27 Rp 4,823
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.98 Rp 159.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.39 LKR 128
$0.48 Rp 8,582
-18.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 LKR 126
$0.43 Rp 7,693
-11.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.89 LKR 293
$5.64 Rp 100.1K
-84.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 LKR 421
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
58.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K LKR 9.9M
$24.9K Rp 442.5M
19.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.2K LKR 14.3M
$31.7K Rp 562.6M
36.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.6 LKR 18.0K
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
-33.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.10 LKR 1,355
$6.49 Rp 115.2K
-36.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.28 LKR 7,037
$18.77 Rp 333.0K
13.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.73 Rp 332.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.41 LKR 1,458
$4.54 Rp 80.5K
-2.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$38.46 LKR 12.7K
$481 Rp 8.5M
-92.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,218 LKR 402.7K
$5,711 Rp 101.3M
-78.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.16 LKR 6,667
$45.52 Rp 807.5K
-55.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.51 LKR 5,460
$35.88 Rp 636.6K
-53.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.3 LKR 25.9K
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
-2.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.99 LKR 14.2K
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
-45.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,115 Rp 19.8M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$698 Rp 12.4M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,637 Rp 64.5M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,784 Rp 49.4M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,290 Rp 40.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$168 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.69
13.78
-7.91%

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

Last update for Vavuniya: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $15.00 in Vavuniya vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $238 vs $295 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 170% 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 $761 in Vavuniya and $2,052 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 24% 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 $507 per month in Vavuniya versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali – a 170% 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 $507 in Vavuniya versus $1,368 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 $507 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 170% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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