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