🙂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 Ababa3% above, Ubud, Bali6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55ETB 718
$3.56Rp 63.7K
27.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.04ETB 5,522
$32.73Rp 584.5K
7.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.41ETB 1,010
$4.95Rp 88.4K
29.49%
Cappuccino
$1.24ETB 196
$2.71Rp 48.4K
-54.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69ETB 109
$1.34Rp 24.0K
-48.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43ETB 67.7
$0.70Rp 12.5K
-38.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.99ETB 156
$2.92Rp 52.1K
-66.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97ETB 468
$3.96Rp 70.7K
-25.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44ETB 228
$1.81Rp 32.3K
-20.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33ETB 210
$2.52Rp 45.0K
-47.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17ETB 343
$1.16Rp 20.7K
87.07%
Eggs
$2.43ETB 383
$2.46Rp 43.9K
-1.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.29ETB 1,148
$14.71Rp 262.7K
-50.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.73ETB 2,164
$4.32Rp 77.1K
217.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.09ETB 2,063
$12.14Rp 216.7K
7.83%
Apples(1kg)
$6.68ETB 1,053
$3.84Rp 68.6K
73.96%
Banana(1kg)
$0.98ETB 154
$1.56Rp 27.8K
-37.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19ETB 345
$2.83Rp 50.6K
-22.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.99ETB 157
$2.33Rp 41.5K
-57.51%
Potato(1kg)
$0.68ETB 107
$1.91Rp 34.2K
-64.40%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81ETB 286
$2.20Rp 39.3K
-17.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68ETB 108
$1.01Rp 18.1K
-32.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64ETB 101
$0.78Rp 13.8K
-17.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.02ETB 633
$3.32Rp 59.2K
21.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.77ETB 909
$23.74Rp 423.9K
-75.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99ETB 156
$2.79Rp 49.8K
-64.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89ETB 298
$2.86Rp 51.1K
-33.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.43ETB 67.9
$0.27Rp 4,800
59.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.21ETB 1,925
$8.03Rp 143.4K
52.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48ETB 234
$0.46Rp 8,150
221.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27ETB 42.16
$0.45Rp 8,037
-40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.05ETB 323
$6.10Rp 108.9K
-66.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24ETB 195
$0.79Rp 14.2K
56.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.4KETB 8.7M
$26.1KRp 467.0M
111.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$54.0KETB 8.5M
$32.1KRp 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)
$157ETB 24.8K
$79.9Rp 1.4M
96.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.11ETB 1,908
$4.06Rp 72.6K
198.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$129ETB 20.3K
$23.52Rp 420.0K
447.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.5ETB 11.0K
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-29.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.71ETB 5,786
$6.63Rp 118.4K
453.70%
Cinema Ticket
$5.86ETB 923
$4.15Rp 74.1K
41.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$81.1ETB 12.8K
$304Rp 5.4M
-73.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$41.1KETB 6.5M
$6,613Rp 118.1M
520.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.81ETB 7,377
$55.5Rp 991.8K
-15.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$74.1ETB 11.7K
$38.31Rp 684.1K
93.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.3ETB 14.7K
$88.6Rp 1.6M
5.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115ETB 18.2K
$77.9Rp 1.4M
48.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$758ETB 119.5K
$1,006Rp 18.0M
-24.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$495ETB 78.0K
$675Rp 12.1M
-26.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,819ETB 286.7K
$3,442Rp 61.5M
-47.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$890ETB 140.2K
$2,039Rp 36.4M
-56.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,981ETB 312.2K
$2,841Rp 50.7M
-30.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,009ETB 159.0K
$2,264Rp 40.4M
-55.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$206ETB 32.5K
$165Rp 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.
Addis Ababa vs other spots: cost of living compared