😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,458 in Ajman versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,549 in Ajman versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,640 in Ajman versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Ajman is roughly 76% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ajman79% above, Ubud, Bali2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.64AED 20.71
$3.37Rp 59.8K
67.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.31AED 100
$38.59Rp 683.8K
-29.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.05AED 29.56
$5.52Rp 97.8K
45.83%
Cappuccino
$3.72AED 13.66
$2.64Rp 46.9K
40.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74AED 2.71
$1.67Rp 29.6K
-55.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39AED 1.44
$0.77Rp 13.6K
-49.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.98AED 40.34
$2.63Rp 46.7K
317.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.09AED 44.39
$4.28Rp 75.9K
182.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90AED 6.99
$1.55Rp 27.4K
22.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33AED 4.90
$2.22Rp 39.4K
-40.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.47AED 5.40
$1.13Rp 19.9K
30.09%
Eggs
$1.97AED 7.24
$2.09Rp 37.0K
-5.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.58AED 27.83
$17.39Rp 308.2K
-56.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.54AED 20.34
$3.87Rp 68.5K
43.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.32AED 30.57
$12.55Rp 222.4K
-33.71%
Apples(1kg)
$1.89AED 6.94
$3.62Rp 64.1K
-47.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26AED 4.61
$1.56Rp 27.6K
-19.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51AED 5.54
$2.35Rp 41.7K
-35.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.89AED 3.27
$2.06Rp 36.4K
-56.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.05AED 3.85
$1.90Rp 33.7K
-44.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.04AED 3.81
$2.34Rp 41.4K
-55.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83AED 3.05
$1.03Rp 18.3K
-19.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52AED 1.92
$0.55Rp 9,830
-5.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.40AED 23.51
$2.25Rp 39.9K
184.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.74AED 39.46
$23.81Rp 421.9K
-54.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65AED 6.08
$2.31Rp 41.0K
-28.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22AED 8.14
$2.80Rp 49.6K
-20.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.01AED 14.74
$0.27Rp 4,827
1385.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.1AED 250
$8.66Rp 153.5K
686.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.58AED 13.15
$0.48Rp 8,533
645.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65AED 2.38
$0.45Rp 7,904
44.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.12AED 29.84
$5.72Rp 101.4K
41.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86AED 3.15
$0.76Rp 13.4K
13.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.3KAED 170.1K
$24.5KRp 433.9M
89.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1KAED 81.3K
$32.1KRp 569.3M
-31.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148AED 543
$83.6Rp 1.5M
77.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.82AED 179
$6.46Rp 114.4K
655.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$84.5AED 310
$18.99Rp 336.6K
345.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$79.2AED 291
$56.0Rp 992.0K
41.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.80AED 35.99
$18.62Rp 329.9K
-47.37%
Cinema Ticket
$13.43AED 49.33
$4.28Rp 75.9K
213.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$490AED 1,800
$487Rp 8.6M
0.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,782AED 21.2K
$5,856Rp 103.8M
-1.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.7AED 212
$45.56Rp 807.4K
26.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.6AED 226
$36.38Rp 644.7K
69.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.4AED 306
$82.0Rp 1.5M
1.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.3AED 343
$80.4Rp 1.4M
16.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,524AED 9,268
$1,117Rp 19.8M
126.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,424AED 5,230
$701Rp 12.4M
103.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,829AED 6,717
$3,537Rp 62.7M
-48.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$4,513AED 16.6K
$1,762Rp 31.2M
156.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,234AED 8,203
$2,826Rp 50.1M
-20.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,401AED 5,146
$2,292Rp 40.6M
-38.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,265AED 8,319
$170Rp 3.0M
1234.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
13.78
-63.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ajman: August 30, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,524 in Ajman and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ajman pays 1234% 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: $27.00 in Ajman vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $198 vs $293 per month, with Ajman cheaper across the board.
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
Ajman vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ajman or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 76% lower than in Ajman. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ajman or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 1234% higher in Ajman, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ajman compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,524 in Ajman versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ajman and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $490 in Ajman versus $487 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Ajman or in Ubud, Bali?
Shoppers in Ajman pay roughly 48% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ajman or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,458 in Ajman, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Ajman. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ajman or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,396 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Ajman compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Ajman 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Ajman. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.