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: $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
$4.05 LKR 1,358
$3.57 Rp 64.5K
13.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.49 LKR 5,535
$32.32 Rp 583.4K
-48.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.45 LKR 2,834
$5.01 Rp 90.4K
68.66%
Cappuccino
$2.63 LKR 881
$2.82 Rp 51.0K
-6.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 LKR 138
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
-69.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 LKR 106
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
-56.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 LKR 792
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
-19.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 LKR 1,104
$3.94 Rp 71.1K
-16.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 LKR 593
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
-0.56%
White Bread (500g)
$0.51 LKR 173
$2.45 Rp 44.2K
-79.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.80 LKR 268
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
-30.43%
Eggs
$2.18 LKR 732
$2.41 Rp 43.6K
-9.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.28 LKR 4,792
$14.33 Rp 258.7K
-0.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.76 LKR 1,598
$4.19 Rp 75.6K
13.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.23 LKR 2,760
$12.06 Rp 217.7K
-31.76%
Apples (1kg)
$7.45 LKR 2,500
$3.64 Rp 65.7K
104.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.12 LKR 376
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
-28.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.95 LKR 1,996
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
113.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.25 LKR 420
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
-44.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 LKR 386
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
-41.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.43 LKR 480
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
-37.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 LKR 384
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
8.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 LKR 203
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
-22.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.15 LKR 3,405
$3.19 Rp 57.6K
218.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.74 LKR 4,274
$23.49 Rp 424.1K
-45.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 LKR 708
$2.90 Rp 52.3K
-27.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 LKR 983
$2.76 Rp 49.7K
6.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.27 Rp 4,813
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.37 Rp 151.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.38 LKR 128
$0.45 Rp 8,167
-15.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 LKR 111
$0.46 Rp 8,298
-28.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.61 LKR 206
$6.07 Rp 109.6K
-89.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 LKR 422
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
46.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K LKR 9.0M
$26.6K Rp 480.0M
0.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K LKR 11.6M
$32.5K Rp 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)
$60.9 LKR 20.4K
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
-22.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.21 LKR 1,413
$4.09 Rp 73.9K
2.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.34 LKR 5,146
$23.85 Rp 430.5K
-35.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.35 Rp 114.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.32 LKR 1,114
$4.01 Rp 72.3K
-17.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$36.13 LKR 12.1K
$297 Rp 5.4M
-87.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$434 LKR 145.7K
$6,602 Rp 119.2M
-93.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.41 LKR 9,196
$53.4 Rp 964.5K
-48.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.23 LKR 6,453
$38.11 Rp 688.1K
-49.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.7 LKR 23.7K
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
-20.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.66 LKR 13.0K
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
-49.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$680 Rp 12.3M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,469 Rp 62.6M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,090 Rp 37.7M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,295 Rp 41.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$164 Rp 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.

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