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