🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $525 in Vavuniya versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $848 in Vavuniya versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,172 in Vavuniya versus $3,694 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 61% below, Ubud, Bali is 4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.05LKR 1,350
$3.57Rp 64.0K
13.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.45LKR 5,487
$32.50Rp 582.3K
-49.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.23LKR 2,745
$4.86Rp 87.1K
69.34%
Cappuccino
$2.75LKR 918
$2.75Rp 49.2K
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42LKR 140
$1.32Rp 23.7K
-68.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32LKR 106
$0.70Rp 12.6K
-54.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.32LKR 773
$2.91Rp 52.2K
-20.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33LKR 1,112
$3.79Rp 68.0K
-12.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78LKR 595
$1.71Rp 30.6K
4.09%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56LKR 187
$2.47Rp 44.3K
-77.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87LKR 289
$1.20Rp 21.5K
-27.50%
Eggs
$2.12LKR 708
$2.44Rp 43.8K
-13.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.12LKR 4,710
$14.38Rp 257.7K
-1.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.61LKR 1,536
$4.31Rp 77.1K
6.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.13LKR 2,712
$12.21Rp 218.7K
-33.42%
Apples(1kg)
$7.66LKR 2,556
$3.68Rp 66.0K
108.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07LKR 356
$1.55Rp 27.8K
-30.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.87LKR 1,959
$2.79Rp 49.9K
110.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.21LKR 402
$2.33Rp 41.8K
-48.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16LKR 386
$1.97Rp 35.3K
-41.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40LKR 468
$2.31Rp 41.4K
-39.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15LKR 382
$1.06Rp 19.1K
8.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57LKR 190
$0.73Rp 13.1K
-21.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.03LKR 3,345
$3.28Rp 58.8K
205.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.67LKR 4,228
$22.79Rp 408.4K
-44.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09LKR 696
$2.81Rp 50.3K
-25.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95LKR 982
$2.78Rp 49.9K
6.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.29Rp 5,217
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.06Rp 144.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.42LKR 140
$0.45Rp 8,047
-6.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33LKR 110
$0.45Rp 8,094
-26.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.57LKR 189
$6.24Rp 111.7K
-90.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25LKR 416
$0.85Rp 15.2K
47.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2KLKR 9.1M
$26.0KRp 465.4M
4.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6KLKR 11.5M
$31.7KRp 567.2M
9.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.8LKR 20.3K
$80.8Rp 1.4M
-24.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.23LKR 1,410
$4.06Rp 72.7K
4.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.95LKR 4,988
$24.42Rp 437.6K
-38.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$97.7Rp 1.7M
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.45Rp 115.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.31LKR 1,105
$4.04Rp 72.4K
-18.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$36.70LKR 12.2K
$304Rp 5.4M
-87.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$446LKR 148.6K
$6,621Rp 118.6M
-93.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.31LKR 9,111
$54.2Rp 971.7K
-49.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.10LKR 6,371
$38.78Rp 694.7K
-50.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.0LKR 23.3K
$86.1Rp 1.5M
-18.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.53LKR 12.9K
$76.7Rp 1.4M
-49.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$986Rp 17.7M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$658Rp 11.8M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,369Rp 60.4M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,066Rp 37.0M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,741Rp 49.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,228Rp 39.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vavuniya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$163Rp 2.9M
-
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $16.00 in Vavuniya vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $259 vs $297 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 167% 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $788 in Vavuniya and $2,106 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 Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% 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 $525 per month in Vavuniya versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali – a 167% 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 Ubud, Bali?
At $525 in Vavuniya versus $1,404 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 $525 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 167% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.