Cost of Living Comparison Between Ambon and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Ambon and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $653 in Ambon versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,004 in Ambon versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,354 in Ambon versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Ambon costs roughly 53% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ambon is 51% below, Ubud, Bali is 4% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ambon
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.95 Rp 17.0K
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
-73.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.09 Rp 216.5K
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
-62.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.32 Rp 59.4K
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
-31.69%
Cappuccino
$1.73 Rp 31.0K
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
-37.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,159
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
-61.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 Rp 4,266
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
-65.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.50 Rp 44.8K
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
-14.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 Rp 63.0K
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
-7.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ambon
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 Rp 21.1K
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
-30.99%
White Bread (500g)
$1.18 Rp 21.1K
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
-52.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.90 Rp 16.1K
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
-25.00%
Eggs
$1.52 Rp 27.2K
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
-37.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.30 Rp 148.7K
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
-42.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.15 Rp 56.4K
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
-26.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.83 Rp 140.3K
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
-35.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.38 Rp 42.7K
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
-35.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 Rp 25.6K
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
-7.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 Rp 33.8K
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
-32.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 Rp 26.9K
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
-35.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
-32.99%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 Rp 33.5K
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
-19.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 Rp 17.5K
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
-8.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 Rp 7,379
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
-43.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52 Rp 45.1K
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
-23.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.05 Rp 377.1K
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
-7.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 Rp 36.0K
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
-28.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 Rp 57.2K
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
14.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Ambon
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 Rp 5,312
$0.29 Rp 5,217
3.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.55 Rp 171.1K
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
18.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 Rp 10.2K
$0.45 Rp 8,047
26.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 Rp 6,770
$0.45 Rp 8,094
-15.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.00 Rp 53.7K
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
-51.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
-2.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K Rp 433.1M
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
-6.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0K Rp 500.8M
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
-11.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ambon
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$68.6 Rp 1.2M
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
-15.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.24 Rp 75.9K
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
4.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.52 Rp 403.5K
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
-7.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ambon
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.02 Rp 412.4K
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
-76.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.22 Rp 111.4K
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
-3.57%
Cinema Ticket
$3.16 Rp 56.6K
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
-21.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ambon
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$95.2 Rp 1.7M
$304 Rp 5.4M
-68.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,658 Rp 137.2M
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
15.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ambon
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.09 Rp 754.1K
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
-22.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.27 Rp 542.2K
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
-21.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.4 Rp 1.2M
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
-21.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.7 Rp 1.3M
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
-2.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ambon
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$260 Rp 4.7M
$986 Rp 17.7M
-73.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$159 Rp 2.9M
$658 Rp 11.8M
-75.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$575 Rp 10.3M
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
-82.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$338 Rp 6.1M
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
-83.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,330 Rp 23.8M
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
-51.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$685 Rp 12.3M
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
-69.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ambon
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$169 Rp 3.0M
$163 Rp 2.9M
3.40%
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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $260 in Ambon and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ambon pays 3% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $297 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 115% 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 Ubud, Bali?
Ambon pays 3% 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 Ambon vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $260 in Ambon versus $986 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 $653 per month in Ambon versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali – a 115% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ambon vs Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Ambon runs roughly 18% 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 Ubud, Bali?
At $653 in Ambon versus $1,404 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 $653 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 115% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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