😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,773 in Ajman versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,108 in Ajman versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,444 in Ajman versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Ajman is roughly 97% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ajman108% above, Ubud, Bali5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16AED 22.61
$3.45Rp 61.8K
78.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.30AED 100
$32.34Rp 578.5K
-15.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.36AED 30.72
$4.84Rp 86.7K
72.73%
Cappuccino
$3.81AED 13.99
$2.75Rp 49.1K
38.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84AED 3.07
$1.38Rp 24.8K
-39.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38AED 1.38
$0.75Rp 13.4K
-49.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.84AED 39.81
$2.99Rp 53.5K
262.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.01AED 40.44
$3.85Rp 68.9K
185.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.27AED 8.35
$1.74Rp 31.1K
30.46%
White Bread(500g)
$1.17AED 4.30
$2.46Rp 44.0K
-52.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.41AED 5.18
$1.17Rp 20.9K
20.51%
Eggs
$1.81AED 6.65
$2.43Rp 43.5K
-25.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.19AED 33.77
$14.50Rp 259.5K
-36.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.69AED 24.56
$4.35Rp 77.8K
53.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.50AED 27.54
$11.98Rp 214.3K
-37.40%
Apples(1kg)
$1.66AED 6.11
$3.72Rp 66.5K
-55.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26AED 4.62
$1.63Rp 29.1K
-22.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44AED 5.29
$2.74Rp 49.1K
-47.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.04AED 3.82
$2.24Rp 40.1K
-53.57%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94AED 3.44
$1.92Rp 34.3K
-51.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.01AED 3.72
$2.28Rp 40.7K
-55.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80AED 2.94
$1.06Rp 19.0K
-24.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57AED 2.08
$0.72Rp 12.9K
-20.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.22AED 22.86
$3.29Rp 58.8K
89.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.09AED 40.75
$23.19Rp 414.9K
-52.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61AED 5.92
$2.78Rp 49.7K
-42.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73AED 10.03
$2.73Rp 48.9K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.15AED 15.24
$0.27Rp 4,765
1437.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.2AED 232
$8.11Rp 145.0K
678.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.63AED 13.33
$0.48Rp 8,636
656.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69AED 2.53
$0.42Rp 7,511
64.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.41AED 30.90
$6.22Rp 111.3K
35.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77AED 2.82
$0.81Rp 14.6K
-4.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.0KAED 165.2K
$26.6KRp 476.1M
69.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KAED 86.9K
$32.2KRp 575.9M
-26.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$140AED 516
$78.4Rp 1.4M
79.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.7AED 223
$4.07Rp 72.8K
1391.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$110AED 403
$24.33Rp 435.2K
350.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$164AED 601
$98.6Rp 1.8M
65.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.56AED 13.06
$6.34Rp 113.3K
-43.85%
Cinema Ticket
$13.85AED 50.9
$3.99Rp 71.3K
247.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$597AED 2,192
$305Rp 5.5M
95.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,646AED 20.7K
$6,642Rp 118.8M
-15.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6AED 215
$54.1Rp 968.6K
8.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.7AED 227
$37.81Rp 676.3K
63.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.9AED 312
$86.8Rp 1.6M
-2.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.1AED 342
$76.4Rp 1.4M
21.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,295AED 12.1K
$992Rp 17.7M
232.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,655AED 6,077
$673Rp 12.0M
145.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$5,671AED 20.8K
$3,375Rp 60.4M
68.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$5,335AED 19.6K
$2,050Rp 36.7M
160.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,279AED 8,370
$2,805Rp 50.2M
-18.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,413AED 5,190
$2,227Rp 39.8M
-36.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,235AED 8,207
$167Rp 3.0M
1238.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.53
13.28
-65.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ajman: July 12, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,295 in Ajman and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ajman pays 1238% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $297 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 97% 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 1238% 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: $3,295 in Ajman versus $992 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 $597 in Ajman versus $305 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 43% 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 $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,773 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 $1,408 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 97% less than in Ajman. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.