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: $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
$52.6 WST 143
$3.56 Rp 64.3K
1377.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.09 WST 95.6
$32.73 Rp 590.3K
7.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.93 WST 37.96
$4.95 Rp 89.3K
181.41%
Cappuccino
$2.50 WST 6.80
$2.71 Rp 48.9K
-7.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 WST 5.70
$1.34 Rp 24.2K
55.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 WST 3.41
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
78.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.39 WST 11.96
$2.92 Rp 52.7K
50.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56 WST 9.71
$3.96 Rp 71.4K
-10.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 WST 4.76
$1.81 Rp 32.6K
-3.31%
White Bread (500g)
$0.78 WST 2.13
$2.52 Rp 45.4K
-69.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 WST 4.77
$1.16 Rp 20.9K
50.86%
Eggs
$4.15 WST 11.30
$2.46 Rp 44.4K
68.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$0.85 WST 2.30
$14.71 Rp 265.3K
-94.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.59 WST 9.79
$4.32 Rp 77.9K
-16.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.25 WST 22.48
$12.14 Rp 218.9K
-32.04%
Apples (1kg)
$5.07 WST 13.81
$3.84 Rp 69.3K
32.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 WST 4.80
$1.56 Rp 28.1K
12.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.81 WST 4.94
$2.83 Rp 51.1K
-36.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.31 WST 11.74
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
84.98%
Potato (1kg)
$3.52 WST 9.60
$1.91 Rp 34.5K
84.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 WST 2.88
$2.20 Rp 39.7K
-51.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.01 Rp 18.3K
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 WST 3.13
$0.78 Rp 14.0K
47.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.14 WST 16.73
$3.32 Rp 59.8K
84.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.12 WST 43.92
$23.74 Rp 428.1K
-32.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 WST 4.80
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
-36.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 WST 9.83
$2.86 Rp 51.6K
26.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.51 WST 9.56
$0.27 Rp 4,848
1200.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.03 Rp 144.8K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.27 WST 14.36
$0.46 Rp 8,231
1045.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.45 Rp 8,117
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.63 WST 58.9
$6.10 Rp 109.9K
254.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 WST 2.89
$0.79 Rp 14.3K
34.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.1K Rp 471.6M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.1K Rp 579.3M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$17.78 WST 48.44
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
-77.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.72 WST 48.29
$4.06 Rp 73.3K
336.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.31 WST 98.9
$23.52 Rp 424.2K
54.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.63 Rp 119.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.15 Rp 74.8K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$304 Rp 5.5M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$6,613 Rp 119.3M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.2 WST 137
$55.5 Rp 1.0M
-9.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.75 WST 111
$38.31 Rp 690.9K
6.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.0 WST 202
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
-16.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 WST 277
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
30.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,006 Rp 18.2M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$675 Rp 12.2M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,442 Rp 62.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,849 WST 5,037
$2,039 Rp 36.8M
-9.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,841 Rp 51.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,264 Rp 40.8M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$165 Rp 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.

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