🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $999 in Apia versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,575 in Apia versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,152 in Apia versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Apia costs roughly 30% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Apia is 25% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$52.6WST 143
$3.56Rp 64.3K
1377.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.09WST 95.6
$32.73Rp 590.3K
7.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.93WST 37.96
$4.95Rp 89.3K
181.41%
Cappuccino
$2.50WST 6.80
$2.71Rp 48.9K
-7.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09WST 5.70
$1.34Rp 24.2K
55.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25WST 3.41
$0.70Rp 12.6K
78.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.39WST 11.96
$2.92Rp 52.7K
50.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56WST 9.71
$3.96Rp 71.4K
-10.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75WST 4.76
$1.81Rp 32.6K
-3.31%
White Bread(500g)
$0.78WST 2.13
$2.52Rp 45.4K
-69.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75WST 4.77
$1.16Rp 20.9K
50.86%
Eggs
$4.15WST 11.30
$2.46Rp 44.4K
68.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$0.85WST 2.30
$14.71Rp 265.3K
-94.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.59WST 9.79
$4.32Rp 77.9K
-16.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.25WST 22.48
$12.14Rp 218.9K
-32.04%
Apples(1kg)
$5.07WST 13.81
$3.84Rp 69.3K
32.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.76WST 4.80
$1.56Rp 28.1K
12.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.81WST 4.94
$2.83Rp 51.1K
-36.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.31WST 11.74
$2.33Rp 41.9K
84.98%
Potato(1kg)
$3.52WST 9.60
$1.91Rp 34.5K
84.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06WST 2.88
$2.20Rp 39.7K
-51.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.01Rp 18.3K
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15WST 3.13
$0.78Rp 14.0K
47.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.14WST 16.73
$3.32Rp 59.8K
84.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.12WST 43.92
$23.74Rp 428.1K
-32.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76WST 4.80
$2.79Rp 50.3K
-36.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61WST 9.83
$2.86Rp 51.6K
26.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.51WST 9.56
$0.27Rp 4,848
1200.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.03Rp 144.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.27WST 14.36
$0.46Rp 8,231
1045.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.45Rp 8,117
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.63WST 58.9
$6.10Rp 109.9K
254.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.06WST 2.89
$0.79Rp 14.3K
34.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.1KRp 471.6M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.1KRp 579.3M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$17.78WST 48.44
$79.9Rp 1.4M
-77.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.72WST 48.29
$4.06Rp 73.3K
336.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.31WST 98.9
$23.52Rp 424.2K
54.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.63Rp 119.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.15Rp 74.8K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$304Rp 5.5M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$6,613Rp 119.3M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.2WST 137
$55.5Rp 1.0M
-9.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.75WST 111
$38.31Rp 690.9K
6.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.0WST 202
$88.6Rp 1.6M
-16.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102WST 277
$77.9Rp 1.4M
30.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,006Rp 18.2M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$675Rp 12.2M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,442Rp 62.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,849WST 5,037
$2,039Rp 36.8M
-9.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,841Rp 51.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,264Rp 40.8M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$165Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
13.28
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Apia: May 31, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Apia vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $234 vs $302, with Apia cheaper for home cooking.
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
Apia vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Apia or Ubud, Bali?
Apia wins on cost – living expenses run 42% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Apia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Apia vs Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $1,498 in Apia and $2,129 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does it cost to live in Apia compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $999 per month in Apia versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Apia or Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Apia or Ubud, Bali?
At $999 in Apia versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Apia but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Apia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Apia or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Apia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $999 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Apia hard to pass up.
How safe is Apia compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Apia 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 Apia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.