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