😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,803 in Ajman versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,201 in Ajman versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,599 in Ajman versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Living in Ajman is roughly 98% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ajman109% above, Ubud, Bali6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.12AED 22.47
$3.56Rp 63.7K
71.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.83AED 98.6
$32.73Rp 584.5K
-18.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.98AED 29.31
$4.95Rp 88.4K
61.21%
Cappuccino
$3.71AED 13.62
$2.71Rp 48.4K
36.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83AED 3.06
$1.34Rp 24.0K
-38.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38AED 1.38
$0.70Rp 12.5K
-45.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.04AED 40.55
$2.92Rp 52.1K
278.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.79AED 39.64
$3.96Rp 70.7K
172.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.27AED 8.33
$1.81Rp 32.3K
25.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.17AED 4.30
$2.52Rp 45.0K
-53.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39AED 5.10
$1.16Rp 20.7K
19.83%
Eggs
$1.87AED 6.88
$2.46Rp 43.9K
-23.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.91AED 32.73
$14.71Rp 262.7K
-39.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.60AED 24.24
$4.32Rp 77.1K
52.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.63AED 28.03
$12.14Rp 216.7K
-37.15%
Apples(1kg)
$1.65AED 6.05
$3.84Rp 68.6K
-57.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.24AED 4.56
$1.56Rp 27.8K
-20.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46AED 5.35
$2.83Rp 50.6K
-48.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.09AED 4.02
$2.33Rp 41.5K
-53.22%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97AED 3.58
$1.91Rp 34.2K
-49.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02AED 3.74
$2.20Rp 39.3K
-53.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74AED 2.73
$1.01Rp 18.1K
-26.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62AED 2.28
$0.78Rp 13.8K
-20.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.28AED 23.05
$3.32Rp 59.2K
89.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.81AED 39.70
$23.74Rp 423.9K
-54.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61AED 5.90
$2.79Rp 49.8K
-42.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67AED 9.82
$2.86Rp 51.1K
-6.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.20AED 15.42
$0.27Rp 4,800
1455.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.0AED 231
$8.03Rp 143.4K
684.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.44AED 12.62
$0.46Rp 8,150
647.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69AED 2.54
$0.45Rp 8,037
53.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.09AED 29.73
$6.10Rp 108.9K
32.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76AED 2.80
$0.79Rp 14.2K
-3.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.7KAED 167.9K
$26.1KRp 467.0M
74.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KAED 85.8K
$32.1KRp 573.6M
-27.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$137AED 504
$79.9Rp 1.4M
71.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.1AED 225
$4.06Rp 72.6K
1405.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$109AED 399
$23.52Rp 420.0K
362.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$167AED 614
$98.7Rp 1.8M
69.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.71AED 13.64
$6.63Rp 118.4K
-44.04%
Cinema Ticket
$13.46AED 49.44
$4.15Rp 74.1K
224.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$579AED 2,128
$304Rp 5.4M
90.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,805AED 21.3K
$6,613Rp 118.1M
-12.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5AED 219
$55.5Rp 991.8K
7.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.1AED 228
$38.31Rp 684.1K
62.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.9AED 312
$88.6Rp 1.6M
-4.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.3AED 339
$77.9Rp 1.4M
18.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,307AED 12.1K
$1,006Rp 18.0M
228.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,654AED 6,076
$675Rp 12.1M
144.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$5,611AED 20.6K
$3,442Rp 61.5M
63.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$5,281AED 19.4K
$2,039Rp 36.4M
158.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,266AED 8,324
$2,841Rp 50.7M
-20.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,429AED 5,247
$2,264Rp 40.4M
-36.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ajman
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,279AED 8,369
$165Rp 3.0M
1278.95%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,307 in Ajman and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ajman pays 1279% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $207 vs $302 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 98% 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 Ubud, Bali?
Ajman pays 1279% more on average, 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $3,307 in Ajman versus $1,006 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 Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $579 in Ajman versus $304 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 Ubud, Bali?
Shoppers in Ajman pay roughly 46% 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 Ubud, Bali?
At $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,803 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 $1,419 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 98% less than in Ajman. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.