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: $1,429 in Addis Ababa versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,079 in Addis Ababa versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,730 in Addis Ababa versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Addis Ababa is roughly 1% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Addis Ababa 7% above, Ubud, Bali 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.44 ETB 704
$3.45 Rp 61.8K
28.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.55 ETB 5,634
$32.34 Rp 578.5K
9.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.67 ETB 1,058
$4.84 Rp 86.7K
37.81%
Cappuccino
$1.30 ETB 206
$2.75 Rp 49.1K
-52.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ETB 100
$1.38 Rp 24.8K
-54.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ETB 68.4
$0.75 Rp 13.4K
-42.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.97 ETB 154
$2.99 Rp 53.5K
-67.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 ETB 465
$3.85 Rp 68.9K
-23.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 ETB 231
$1.74 Rp 31.1K
-16.09%
White Bread (500g)
$1.33 ETB 211
$2.46 Rp 44.0K
-45.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.15 ETB 341
$1.17 Rp 20.9K
83.76%
Eggs
$2.40 ETB 380
$2.43 Rp 43.5K
-1.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.12 ETB 1,128
$14.50 Rp 259.5K
-50.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.71 ETB 2,173
$4.35 Rp 77.8K
215.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.07 ETB 2,071
$11.98 Rp 214.3K
9.10%
Apples (1kg)
$6.66 ETB 1,055
$3.72 Rp 66.5K
79.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ETB 165
$1.63 Rp 29.1K
-36.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ETB 348
$2.74 Rp 49.1K
-20.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.98 ETB 155
$2.24 Rp 40.1K
-56.25%
Potato (1kg)
$0.63 ETB 99.9
$1.92 Rp 34.3K
-67.19%
Onion (1kg)
$1.91 ETB 303
$2.28 Rp 40.7K
-16.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ETB 105
$1.06 Rp 19.0K
-37.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 ETB 108
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
-5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 ETB 629
$3.29 Rp 58.8K
20.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.68 ETB 901
$23.19 Rp 414.9K
-75.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 ETB 164
$2.78 Rp 49.7K
-62.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 ETB 290
$2.73 Rp 48.9K
-32.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 ETB 69.8
$0.27 Rp 4,765
62.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.19 ETB 1,932
$8.11 Rp 145.0K
50.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.43 ETB 226
$0.48 Rp 8,636
197.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 ETB 46.37
$0.42 Rp 7,511
-30.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.04 ETB 323
$6.22 Rp 111.3K
-67.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ETB 198
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
54.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.6K ETB 8.8M
$26.6K Rp 476.1M
108.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$54.3K ETB 8.6M
$32.2K Rp 575.9M
68.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$163 ETB 25.8K
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
107.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.23 ETB 1,938
$4.07 Rp 72.8K
200.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$129 ETB 20.5K
$24.33 Rp 435.2K
430.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.4 ETB 11.0K
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-29.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.29 ETB 5,752
$6.34 Rp 113.3K
472.40%
Cinema Ticket
$5.82 ETB 923
$3.99 Rp 71.3K
45.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$80.5 ETB 12.8K
$305 Rp 5.5M
-73.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$40.0K ETB 6.3M
$6,642 Rp 118.8M
501.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.75 ETB 7,568
$54.1 Rp 968.6K
-11.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$74.4 ETB 11.8K
$37.81 Rp 676.3K
96.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.4 ETB 14.5K
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
5.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 ETB 18.4K
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
52.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$732 ETB 116.0K
$992 Rp 17.7M
-26.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$511 ETB 81.1K
$673 Rp 12.0M
-23.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,816 ETB 287.9K
$3,375 Rp 60.4M
-46.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$885 ETB 140.3K
$2,050 Rp 36.7M
-56.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,969 ETB 312.1K
$2,805 Rp 50.2M
-29.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$992 ETB 157.2K
$2,227 Rp 39.8M
-55.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$200 ETB 31.7K
$167 Rp 3.0M
19.97%
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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $732 in Addis Ababa and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Addis Ababa pays 20% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $36.00 in Addis Ababa vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $265 vs $297, 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Addis Ababa and Ubud, Bali differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($1,429 vs $1,408 including rent). Ubud, Bali 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?
Average pay runs 20% higher in Addis Ababa, 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $732 in Addis Ababa versus $992 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 $1,429 per month in Addis Ababa versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Addis Ababa and in Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 50% less than in Addis Ababa. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,429 in Addis Ababa, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Addis Ababa. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali 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 Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Addis Ababa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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