😐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 Ababa7% above, Ubud, Bali5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.44ETB 704
$3.45Rp 61.8K
28.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.55ETB 5,634
$32.34Rp 578.5K
9.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.67ETB 1,058
$4.84Rp 86.7K
37.81%
Cappuccino
$1.30ETB 206
$2.75Rp 49.1K
-52.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63ETB 100
$1.38Rp 24.8K
-54.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43ETB 68.4
$0.75Rp 13.4K
-42.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.97ETB 154
$2.99Rp 53.5K
-67.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93ETB 465
$3.85Rp 68.9K
-23.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46ETB 231
$1.74Rp 31.1K
-16.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33ETB 211
$2.46Rp 44.0K
-45.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.15ETB 341
$1.17Rp 20.9K
83.76%
Eggs
$2.40ETB 380
$2.43Rp 43.5K
-1.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.12ETB 1,128
$14.50Rp 259.5K
-50.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.71ETB 2,173
$4.35Rp 77.8K
215.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.07ETB 2,071
$11.98Rp 214.3K
9.10%
Apples(1kg)
$6.66ETB 1,055
$3.72Rp 66.5K
79.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.04ETB 165
$1.63Rp 29.1K
-36.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19ETB 348
$2.74Rp 49.1K
-20.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.98ETB 155
$2.24Rp 40.1K
-56.25%
Potato(1kg)
$0.63ETB 99.9
$1.92Rp 34.3K
-67.19%
Onion(1kg)
$1.91ETB 303
$2.28Rp 40.7K
-16.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66ETB 105
$1.06Rp 19.0K
-37.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68ETB 108
$0.72Rp 12.9K
-5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97ETB 629
$3.29Rp 58.8K
20.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.68ETB 901
$23.19Rp 414.9K
-75.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04ETB 164
$2.78Rp 49.7K
-62.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83ETB 290
$2.73Rp 48.9K
-32.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.44ETB 69.8
$0.27Rp 4,765
62.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.19ETB 1,932
$8.11Rp 145.0K
50.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.43ETB 226
$0.48Rp 8,636
197.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29ETB 46.37
$0.42Rp 7,511
-30.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.04ETB 323
$6.22Rp 111.3K
-67.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25ETB 198
$0.81Rp 14.6K
54.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.6KETB 8.8M
$26.6KRp 476.1M
108.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$54.3KETB 8.6M
$32.2KRp 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)
$163ETB 25.8K
$78.4Rp 1.4M
107.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.23ETB 1,938
$4.07Rp 72.8K
200.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$129ETB 20.5K
$24.33Rp 435.2K
430.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.4ETB 11.0K
$98.6Rp 1.8M
-29.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.29ETB 5,752
$6.34Rp 113.3K
472.40%
Cinema Ticket
$5.82ETB 923
$3.99Rp 71.3K
45.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$80.5ETB 12.8K
$305Rp 5.5M
-73.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$40.0KETB 6.3M
$6,642Rp 118.8M
501.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.75ETB 7,568
$54.1Rp 968.6K
-11.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$74.4ETB 11.8K
$37.81Rp 676.3K
96.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.4ETB 14.5K
$86.8Rp 1.6M
5.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116ETB 18.4K
$76.4Rp 1.4M
52.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$732ETB 116.0K
$992Rp 17.7M
-26.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$511ETB 81.1K
$673Rp 12.0M
-23.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,816ETB 287.9K
$3,375Rp 60.4M
-46.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$885ETB 140.3K
$2,050Rp 36.7M
-56.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,969ETB 312.1K
$2,805Rp 50.2M
-29.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$992ETB 157.2K
$2,227Rp 39.8M
-55.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Addis Ababa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$200ETB 31.7K
$167Rp 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.
Addis Ababa vs other spots: cost of living compared