Cost of Living Comparison Between Addis Ababa and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Addis Ababa and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,383 in Addis Ababa versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,083 in Addis Ababa versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,783 in Addis Ababa versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Addis Ababa costs roughly 3% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Addis Ababa 3% above, Ubud, Bali 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 ETB 718
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
27.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.04 ETB 5,522
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
7.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.41 ETB 1,010
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
29.49%
Cappuccino
$1.24 ETB 196
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
-54.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ETB 109
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
-48.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ETB 67.7
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
-38.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.99 ETB 156
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
-66.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ETB 468
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
-25.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 ETB 228
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
-20.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.33 ETB 210
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
-47.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ETB 343
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
87.07%
Eggs
$2.43 ETB 383
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
-1.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.29 ETB 1,148
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
-50.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.73 ETB 2,164
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
217.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.09 ETB 2,063
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
7.83%
Apples (1kg)
$6.68 ETB 1,053
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
73.96%
Banana (1kg)
$0.98 ETB 154
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
-37.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ETB 345
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
-22.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.99 ETB 157
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
-57.51%
Potato (1kg)
$0.68 ETB 107
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
-64.40%
Onion (1kg)
$1.81 ETB 286
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
-17.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ETB 108
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
-32.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 ETB 101
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
-17.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.02 ETB 633
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
21.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.77 ETB 909
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-75.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 ETB 156
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
-64.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 ETB 298
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
-33.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ETB 67.9
$0.27 Rp 4,800
59.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.21 ETB 1,925
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
52.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 ETB 234
$0.46 Rp 8,150
221.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 ETB 42.16
$0.45 Rp 8,037
-40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.05 ETB 323
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
-66.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ETB 195
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
56.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.4K ETB 8.7M
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
111.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$54.0K ETB 8.5M
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
68.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$157 ETB 24.8K
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
96.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.11 ETB 1,908
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
198.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$129 ETB 20.3K
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
447.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.5 ETB 11.0K
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-29.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.71 ETB 5,786
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
453.70%
Cinema Ticket
$5.86 ETB 923
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
41.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$81.1 ETB 12.8K
$304 Rp 5.4M
-73.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$41.1K ETB 6.5M
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
520.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.81 ETB 7,377
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
-15.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$74.1 ETB 11.7K
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
93.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.3 ETB 14.7K
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
5.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 ETB 18.2K
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
48.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$758 ETB 119.5K
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
-24.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$495 ETB 78.0K
$675 Rp 12.1M
-26.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,819 ETB 286.7K
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-47.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 ETB 140.2K
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
-56.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,981 ETB 312.2K
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
-30.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,009 ETB 159.0K
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
-55.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$206 ETB 32.5K
$165 Rp 3.0M
24.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
17
13.28
28.01%

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

Last update for Addis Ababa: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $758 in Addis Ababa and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Addis Ababa pays 25% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35.00 in Addis Ababa vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $265 vs $302, with Addis Ababa cheaper for home cooking.

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
Addis Ababa vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Addis Ababa and Ubud, Bali?
Addis Ababa and Ubud, Bali differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($1,383 vs $1,419 including rent). Addis Ababa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Addis Ababa or Ubud, Bali?
Addis Ababa pays 25% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Addis Ababa and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $758 in Addis Ababa versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Addis Ababa or Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $1,383 per month in Addis Ababa versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Addis Ababa and Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Addis Ababa runs roughly 52% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,383 in Addis Ababa versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Addis Ababa but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Addis Ababa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Addis Ababa and 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.
Is Addis Ababa or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Addis Ababa 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.
Where should expats move: Addis Ababa or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Addis Ababa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% 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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