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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $850 in Apia versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,339 in Apia versus $2,327 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,828 in Apia versus $3,275 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Apia costs roughly 38% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Apia is 38% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$46.91 WST 128
$3.33 Rp 58.7K
1308.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.30 WST 102
$35.82 Rp 630.7K
4.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.68 WST 40.11
$5.63 Rp 99.1K
160.75%
Cappuccino
$2.96 WST 8.09
$2.82 Rp 49.7K
4.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 WST 5.05
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
5.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 WST 3.81
$0.80 Rp 14.0K
75.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.55 WST 9.71
$3.04 Rp 53.6K
16.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56 WST 9.73
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
-17.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 WST 4.86
$1.61 Rp 28.3K
10.56%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 WST 2.21
$2.27 Rp 39.9K
-64.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 WST 5.11
$1.17 Rp 20.6K
59.83%
Eggs
$4.39 WST 12.01
$2.17 Rp 38.2K
102.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$0.88 WST 2.42
$17.63 Rp 310.5K
-95.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.76 WST 10.27
$4.05 Rp 71.4K
-7.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.20 WST 22.42
$12.18 Rp 214.5K
-32.68%
Apples (1kg)
$5.05 WST 13.80
$3.62 Rp 63.7K
39.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 WST 5.07
$1.64 Rp 28.8K
12.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 WST 4.90
$2.31 Rp 40.6K
-22.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 WST 12.33
$1.96 Rp 34.5K
130.10%
Potato (1kg)
$3.76 WST 10.27
$1.84 Rp 32.5K
104.35%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 WST 3.06
$2.37 Rp 41.7K
-52.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.05 Rp 18.5K
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 WST 3.37
$0.54 Rp 9,560
127.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.14 WST 16.78
$2.30 Rp 40.6K
166.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.43 WST 44.92
$23.08 Rp 406.4K
-28.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 WST 4.89
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
-23.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 WST 9.82
$3.07 Rp 54.0K
16.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.76 WST 10.28
$0.25 Rp 4,365
1404.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$9.42 Rp 165.9K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.64 WST 15.43
$0.49 Rp 8,631
1051.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$5.45 WST 14.91
$0.47 Rp 8,349
1059.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.64 WST 59.1
$5.60 Rp 98.6K
286.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 WST 3.04
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
37.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$25.0K Rp 440.3M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$31.1K Rp 547.0M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$17.98 WST 49.15
$82.7 Rp 1.5M
-78.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.52 WST 50.6
$6.49 Rp 114.2K
185.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.30 WST 102
$18.79 Rp 330.8K
98.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$55.2 Rp 972.6K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.21 Rp 320.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$494 Rp 8.7M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,917 Rp 104.2M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$46.28 Rp 814.8K
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$36.44 Rp 641.6K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$78.8 Rp 1.4M
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,114 Rp 19.6M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$693 Rp 12.2M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,639 Rp 64.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,823 WST 4,984
$1,712 Rp 30.1M
6.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,761 Rp 48.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,293 Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$167 Rp 2.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
13.78
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Apia: September 8, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $37.00 in Apia vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $240 vs $294, 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 62% 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 and in Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $1,275 in Apia and $2,067 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 $850 per month in Apia versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Apia or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
At $850 in Apia versus $1,378 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 $850 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 62% 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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