Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Vavuniya and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Vavuniya: $511 a month against $1,331 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $9,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Vavuniya, Sri Lanka
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Vavuniya
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
$511
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,331
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Vavuniya and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Vavuniya and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $511 in Vavuniya versus $1,331 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Vavuniya $511
  • Ubud, Bali $1,331

Estimated couple costs with rent: $805 in Vavuniya versus $2,255 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Vavuniya $805
  • Ubud, Bali $2,255

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,099 in Vavuniya versus $3,180 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Vavuniya $1,099
  • Ubud, Bali $3,180

Living in Vavuniya costs roughly 62% less than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both cities sit below the global median: Vavuniya 62% lower, Ubud, Bali 2% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.87 LKR 1,285
$3.38 Rp 61.3K
14.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.87 LKR 4,944
$34.65 Rp 628.8K
-57.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.54 LKR 2,509
$5.57 Rp 101.2K
35.37%
Cappuccino
$2.53 LKR 841
$2.62 Rp 47.5K
-3.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 LKR 132
$1.54 Rp 27.9K
-74.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 LKR 82.5
$0.64 Rp 11.6K
-60.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.18 LKR 725
$2.67 Rp 48.4K
-18.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 LKR 987
$4.26 Rp 77.4K
-30.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 LKR 546
$1.46 Rp 26.5K
12.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.57 LKR 189
$2.29 Rp 41.6K
-75.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.77 LKR 255
$1.11 Rp 20.1K
-30.63%
Eggs
$1.63 LKR 543
$2.10 Rp 38.1K
-22.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.50 LKR 5,156
$15.94 Rp 289.3K
-2.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.14 LKR 1,710
$3.88 Rp 70.5K
32.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.39 LKR 2,459
$11.40 Rp 206.9K
-35.18%
Apples (1kg)
$6.66 LKR 2,214
$3.55 Rp 64.5K
87.61%
Banana (1kg)
$0.88 LKR 293
$1.54 Rp 27.9K
-42.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.27 LKR 1,421
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
91.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.31 LKR 436
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
-33.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 LKR 358
$1.86 Rp 33.7K
-41.94%
Onion (1kg)
$0.76 LKR 254
$2.42 Rp 43.9K
-68.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 LKR 413
$1.02 Rp 18.6K
21.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 LKR 143
$0.52 Rp 9,479
-17.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.16 LKR 3,377
$2.20 Rp 39.9K
361.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.31 LKR 4,426
$21.79 Rp 395.4K
-38.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 LKR 643
$2.33 Rp 42.2K
-17.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 LKR 949
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
-4.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.25 Rp 4,544
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.17 Rp 148.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.41 LKR 135
$0.44 Rp 7,944
-6.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 LKR 103
$0.47 Rp 8,493
-34.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.88 LKR 294
$5.60 Rp 101.6K
-84.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 LKR 436
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
57.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.3K LKR 14.4M
$24.4K Rp 443.7M
77.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.6K LKR 15.2M
$31.7K Rp 575.2M
43.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.4 LKR 18.8K
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
-27.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.10 LKR 1,364
$6.14 Rp 111.5K
-33.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.92 LKR 6,956
$18.92 Rp 343.3K
10.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$51.0 Rp 925.4K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.25 Rp 331.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.56 LKR 1,516
$4.38 Rp 79.5K
4.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$39.87 LKR 13.3K
$492 Rp 8.9M
-91.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.5K LKR 5.8M
$12.2K Rp 221.8M
43.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.42 LKR 6,126
$45.16 Rp 819.6K
-59.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.75 LKR 5,903
$34.89 Rp 633.2K
-49.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.5 LKR 25.8K
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
-1.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.50 LKR 13.8K
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
-46.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,078 Rp 19.6M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$665 Rp 12.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,510 Rp 63.7M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,671 Rp 30.3M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,340 Rp 42.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,236 Rp 40.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$166 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.5
13.78
-9.29%

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

Last update for Vavuniya: November 2, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Vavuniya
$245
Ubud, Bali
$279 14% $34
Eating Out
Vavuniya
$103
Ubud, Bali
$106 2.4% $2.4
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vavuniya
$81
Ubud, Bali
$103 26% $21
Clothing & Footwear
Vavuniya
$70
Ubud, Bali
$106 52.3% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Vavuniya
$9.1 *
Ubud, Bali
$60 556% $51
Getting Around
Vavuniya
$2 *
Ubud, Bali
$12 513% $10
Accommodation & Living
Vavuniya
- *
Ubud, Bali
$665

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $15 in Vavuniya vs $35 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $245 vs $279 per month, with Vavuniya cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇱🇰 Vavuniya
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
15:52 3:52 PM
18:22 6:22 PM
2 h 30 min ahead of Vavuniya
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
99,600
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to LKR – Sri Lankan Rupee Converter

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 333 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD). 1 EUR = 373 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.68 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 18,148 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,345 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.92 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Vavuniya Ubud, Bali 4,300 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Vavuniya
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 62% 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 $766 in Vavuniya and $1,996 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 $511 per month in Vavuniya versus $1,331 in Ubud, Bali – Vavuniya is about 62% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Vavuniya or in Ubud, Bali?
At $511 in Vavuniya versus $1,331 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,200 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 offers a better quality of life: Vavuniya or Ubud, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Vavuniya compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Vavuniya and Ubud, Bali are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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