Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Aiken, SC and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,349 a month against $2,436 in Aiken, SC, rent and utilities included – about $13,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Aiken, SC, United States
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Aiken, SC
🇺🇸 United States
$2,436
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Aiken, SC and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Aiken, SC and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,436 in Aiken, SC versus $1,349 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Aiken, SC $2,436
  • Ubud, Bali $1,349

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,384 in Aiken, SC versus $2,305 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Aiken, SC $3,384
  • Ubud, Bali $2,305

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,332 in Aiken, SC versus $3,261 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Aiken, SC $4,332
  • Ubud, Bali $3,261

Living in Aiken, SC is roughly 81% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aiken, SC
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.28 $15.28
$3.32 Rp 60.4K
360.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.8 $58.8
$35.64 Rp 647.8K
65.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.80 $10.80
$5.53 Rp 100.6K
95.30%
Cappuccino
$3.69 $3.69
$2.72 Rp 49.4K
35.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
28.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
159.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$2.65 Rp 48.2K
120.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.53 $8.53
$4.38 Rp 79.6K
94.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aiken, SC
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.49 Rp 27.1K
-31.54%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.28 Rp 41.4K
20.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.31 $2.31
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
94.12%
Eggs
$3.59 $3.59
$2.04 Rp 37.0K
75.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.15 $14.15
$17.70 Rp 321.7K
-20.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.28 $6.28
$3.96 Rp 72.0K
58.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.71 $18.71
$12.19 Rp 221.6K
53.49%
Apples (1kg)
$8.72 $8.72
$3.66 Rp 66.4K
138.25%
Banana (1kg)
$2.29 $2.29
$1.52 Rp 27.6K
50.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.93 $2.93
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
31.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.87 $3.87
$1.97 Rp 35.9K
96.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.85 Rp 33.6K
5.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.42 Rp 44.1K
13.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.87 $1.87
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
88.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.51 Rp 9,332
301.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.16 $7.16
$2.22 Rp 40.4K
222.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.05 $13.05
$22.24 Rp 404.2K
-41.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.26 Rp 41.1K
-11.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.97 Rp 54.0K
0.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Aiken, SC
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.25 Rp 4,562
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$7.82 Rp 142.2K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.90 $4.90
$0.44 Rp 7,989
1013.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$5.02 $5.02
$0.43 Rp 7,817
1067.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$51.0 $51.0
$5.41 Rp 98.3K
841.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.73 $0.73
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
-10.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K $28.3K
$23.8K Rp 433.3M
18.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$31.7K Rp 577.0M
-16.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aiken, SC
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$222 $222
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
180.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$66.2 $66.2
$6.45 Rp 117.2K
926.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$84.2 $84.2
$18.58 Rp 337.7K
353.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aiken, SC
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.6 $56.6
$49.48 Rp 899.4K
14.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.65 Rp 320.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.99 $14.99
$4.27 Rp 77.7K
251.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aiken, SC
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$942 $942
$491 Rp 8.9M
92.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.0K $18.0K
$5,674 Rp 103.1M
217.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aiken, SC
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.7 $64.7
$44.64 Rp 811.4K
45.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.36 $44.36
$34.95 Rp 635.3K
26.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 $114
$79.9 Rp 1.5M
43.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.6 $64.6
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
-18.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aiken, SC
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,337 $1,337
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
18.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,191 $1,191
$671 Rp 12.2M
77.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,759 $1,759
$3,565 Rp 64.8M
-50.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,706 $1,706
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
-1.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,694 $1,694
$2,732 Rp 49.6M
-37.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,359 $1,359
$2,284 Rp 41.5M
-40.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aiken, SC
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$164 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
13.78
-52.32%

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

Last update for Aiken, SC: October 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Aiken, SC
$1.2K
Ubud, Bali
$672 43.6% $519
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aiken, SC
$372
Ubud, Bali
$104 72% $268
Groceries & Markets
Aiken, SC
$365
Ubud, Bali
$288 21% $77
Eating Out
Aiken, SC
$262
Ubud, Bali
$108 58.9% $154
Clothing & Footwear
Aiken, SC
$130
Ubud, Bali
$108 17.1% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Aiken, SC
$87
Ubud, Bali
$58 33% $29
Getting Around
Aiken, SC
$30 *
Ubud, Bali
$11 61.9% $19

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,337 in Aiken, SC and $1,125 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $59 in Aiken, SC vs $36 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $365 vs $288 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Aiken, SC
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
17:22 5:22 PM
05:22 5:22 AM
12 h ahead of Aiken, SC
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
28,829
74,800
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18,175 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.5 USD). 1 EUR = 20,233 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Aiken, SC Ubud, Bali 16,730 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Aiken, SC
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Aiken, SC vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Aiken, SC or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 45% lower than in Aiken, SC. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Aiken, SC and in Ubud, Bali?
You’d need roughly $3,654 in Aiken, SC and $2,023 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Aiken, SC compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,337 in Aiken, SC versus $1,125 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Aiken, SC and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $942 in Aiken, SC versus $491 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Aiken, SC and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $36 versus $59 in Aiken, SC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Aiken, SC or in Ubud, Bali?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Ubud, Bali is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Aiken, SC or 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.
How safe is Aiken, SC compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Aiken, SC and Ubud, Bali are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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