🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $661 in Ambon versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,017 in Ambon versus $2,557 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,373 in Ambon versus $3,723 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Ambon costs roughly 52% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ambon is 50% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ambon
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.88Rp 16.0K
$3.57Rp 64.6K
-75.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.22Rp 220.9K
$32.32Rp 584.4K
-62.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.36Rp 60.8K
$5.01Rp 90.5K
-32.93%
Cappuccino
$1.74Rp 31.4K
$2.82Rp 51.1K
-38.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51Rp 9,200
$1.35Rp 24.4K
-62.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,741
$0.73Rp 13.2K
-64.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49Rp 44.9K
$2.93Rp 53.0K
-15.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45Rp 62.4K
$3.94Rp 71.2K
-12.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ambon
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19Rp 21.5K
$1.78Rp 32.2K
-33.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.16Rp 21.0K
$2.45Rp 44.3K
-52.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.8K
$1.15Rp 20.8K
-19.13%
Eggs
$1.55Rp 28.0K
$2.41Rp 43.7K
-35.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.19Rp 148.0K
$14.33Rp 259.1K
-42.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.11Rp 56.3K
$4.19Rp 75.7K
-25.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.07Rp 145.9K
$12.06Rp 218.1K
-33.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34Rp 42.2K
$3.64Rp 65.8K
-35.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50Rp 27.1K
$1.57Rp 28.3K
-4.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.82Rp 32.8K
$2.79Rp 50.4K
-34.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56Rp 28.2K
$2.24Rp 40.5K
-30.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33Rp 24.0K
$1.98Rp 35.8K
-32.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89Rp 34.1K
$2.28Rp 41.2K
-17.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95Rp 17.3K
$1.05Rp 19.1K
-9.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,125
$0.79Rp 14.2K
-43.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54Rp 46.0K
$3.19Rp 57.7K
-20.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.90Rp 359.8K
$23.49Rp 424.8K
-15.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13Rp 38.5K
$2.90Rp 52.4K
-26.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07Rp 55.5K
$2.76Rp 49.8K
11.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Ambon
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,787
$0.27Rp 4,821
18.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.70Rp 175.4K
$8.37Rp 151.3K
15.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.57Rp 10.3K
$0.45Rp 8,180
26.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,747
$0.46Rp 8,311
-19.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.94Rp 53.1K
$6.07Rp 109.7K
-51.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 15.1K
$0.86Rp 15.6K
-3.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7KRp 446.7M
$26.6KRp 480.7M
-7.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6KRp 498.2M
$32.5KRp 588.6M
-15.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ambon
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.9Rp 1.3M
$79.0Rp 1.4M
-10.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.21Rp 76.1K
$4.09Rp 74.0K
2.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.67Rp 409.9K
$23.85Rp 431.2K
-4.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ambon
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.43Rp 423.6K
$98.8Rp 1.8M
-76.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.00Rp 108.5K
$6.35Rp 114.9K
-5.51%
Cinema Ticket
$3.04Rp 54.9K
$4.01Rp 72.5K
-24.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ambon
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$91.5Rp 1.7M
$297Rp 5.4M
-69.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,444Rp 134.6M
$6,602Rp 119.4M
12.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ambon
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.02Rp 759.7K
$53.4Rp 966.0K
-21.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.12Rp 562.6K
$38.11Rp 689.2K
-18.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.9Rp 1.2M
$88.7Rp 1.6M
-24.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.5Rp 1.3M
$76.6Rp 1.4M
-5.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ambon
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$261Rp 4.7M
$1,020Rp 18.4M
-74.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$158Rp 2.9M
$680Rp 12.3M
-76.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$582Rp 10.5M
$3,469Rp 62.7M
-83.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$329Rp 5.9M
$2,090Rp 37.8M
-84.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,166Rp 21.1M
$2,729Rp 49.3M
-57.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$611Rp 11.0M
$2,295Rp 41.5M
-73.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ambon
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$170Rp 3.1M
$164Rp 3.0M
3.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
13.28
-31.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ambon: July 28, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $261 in Ambon and $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ambon pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Ambon vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $207 vs $298 per month, with Ambon 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
Ambon vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ambon or Ubud, Bali?
Ambon wins on cost – living expenses run 110% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ambon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ambon or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 4% higher in Ambon, 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 Ambon compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $261 in Ambon versus $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Ambon compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $661 per month in Ambon versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali – a 110% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ambon compared to Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Ambon runs roughly 16% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ambon or in Ubud, Bali?
At $661 in Ambon versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ambon but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Ambon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ambon or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ambon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $661 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ambon hard to pass up.
How safe is Ambon compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Ambon 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 Ambon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 110% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.