🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $971 in Apia versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,534 in Apia versus $2,557 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,097 in Apia versus $3,723 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 27% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$53.0WST 146
$3.57Rp 64.6K
1383.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.35WST 97.2
$32.32Rp 584.4K
9.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.72WST 37.74
$5.01Rp 90.5K
173.85%
Cappuccino
$2.46WST 6.78
$2.82Rp 51.1K
-12.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04WST 5.60
$1.35Rp 24.4K
51.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31WST 3.62
$0.73Rp 13.2K
79.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.20WST 11.56
$2.93Rp 53.0K
43.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46WST 9.52
$3.94Rp 71.2K
-12.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.84WST 5.05
$1.78Rp 32.2K
3.37%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79WST 2.16
$2.45Rp 44.3K
-67.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82WST 5.00
$1.15Rp 20.8K
58.26%
Eggs
$4.26WST 11.72
$2.41Rp 43.7K
76.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$0.93WST 2.55
$14.33Rp 259.1K
-93.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.51WST 9.66
$4.19Rp 75.7K
-16.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.10WST 22.27
$12.06Rp 218.1K
-32.84%
Apples(1kg)
$5.09WST 13.99
$3.64Rp 65.8K
39.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.84WST 5.05
$1.57Rp 28.3K
17.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.83WST 5.04
$2.79Rp 50.4K
-34.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.39WST 12.07
$2.24Rp 40.5K
95.98%
Potato(1kg)
$3.62WST 9.96
$1.98Rp 35.8K
82.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.04WST 2.87
$2.28Rp 41.2K
-54.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.05Rp 19.1K
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19WST 3.28
$0.79Rp 14.2K
50.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.06WST 16.66
$3.19Rp 57.7K
89.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.39WST 45.06
$23.49Rp 424.8K
-30.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81WST 4.99
$2.90Rp 52.4K
-37.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54WST 9.75
$2.76Rp 49.8K
28.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.66WST 10.07
$0.27Rp 4,821
1255.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.37Rp 151.3K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.38WST 14.81
$0.45Rp 8,180
1095.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.46Rp 8,311
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.59WST 59.4
$6.07Rp 109.7K
255.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.04WST 2.86
$0.86Rp 15.6K
20.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.6KRp 480.7M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.5KRp 588.6M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$17.60WST 48.39
$79.0Rp 1.4M
-77.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.76WST 48.85
$4.09Rp 74.0K
334.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.95WST 98.9
$23.85Rp 431.2K
50.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$98.8Rp 1.8M
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.35Rp 114.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.01Rp 72.5K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$297Rp 5.4M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$6,602Rp 119.4M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.0WST 138
$53.4Rp 966.0K
-6.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.48WST 109
$38.11Rp 689.2K
3.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.1WST 209
$88.7Rp 1.6M
-14.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.7WST 274
$76.6Rp 1.4M
30.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,020Rp 18.4M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$680Rp 12.3M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,469Rp 62.7M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,855WST 5,102
$2,090Rp 37.8M
-11.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,729Rp 49.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,295Rp 41.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Apia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$164Rp 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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Apia vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $237 vs $298, 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 43% 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 $1,456 in Apia and $2,088 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 $971 per month in Apia versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali – a 43% 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 26% 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 $971 in Apia versus $1,392 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 $971 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 43% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.