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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $643 in Aracaju versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $999 in Aracaju versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,355 in Aracaju versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Aracaju costs roughly 55% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Aracaju is 52% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aracaju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.94 R$24.70
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
38.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.74 R$109
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
-33.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.31 R$26.60
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
7.27%
Cappuccino
$1.64 R$8.19
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
-39.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 R$5.14
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
-23.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 R$2.80
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
-20.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.82 R$9.10
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
-37.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 R$13.17
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
-33.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aracaju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 R$5.08
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
-44.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 R$6.31
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
-50.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 R$5.12
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
-12.07%
Eggs
$1.55 R$7.75
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
-36.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.54 R$32.72
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
-55.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.41 R$17.07
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
-21.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.32 R$31.63
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
-47.94%
Apples (1kg)
$1.62 R$8.09
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
-57.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 R$5.46
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
-30.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.60 R$3.02
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
-78.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.99 R$4.96
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
-57.51%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 R$4.62
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
-51.83%
Onion (1kg)
$0.83 R$4.13
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
-62.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.50 R$2.50
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
-50.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 R$3.02
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
-23.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.00 R$9.99
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
-39.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.79 R$28.99
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-75.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 R$6.55
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
-53.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 R$9.28
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
-35.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Aracaju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 R$3.96
$0.27 Rp 4,800
192.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.78 R$189
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
370.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.05 R$5.24
$0.46 Rp 8,150
128.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 R$5.50
$0.45 Rp 8,037
144.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.25 R$31.27
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
2.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 R$5.19
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
31.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8K R$89.3K
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
-31.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K R$133.2K
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
-17.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aracaju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.9 R$330
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
-17.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.94 R$69.8
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
243.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.74 R$78.8
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
-33.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aracaju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.70 R$93.6
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-81.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.02 R$120
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
262.29%
Cinema Ticket
$5.90 R$29.54
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
42.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aracaju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$164 R$820
$304 Rp 5.4M
-46.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,851 R$24.3K
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
-26.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aracaju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.4 R$262
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
-5.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.07 R$151
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
-21.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.8 R$349
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
-21.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.3 R$397
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
1.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aracaju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$178 R$892
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
-82.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$117 R$586
$675 Rp 12.1M
-82.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$601 R$3,007
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-82.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$212 R$1,060
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
-89.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,311 R$6,562
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
-53.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$901 R$4,511
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
-60.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aracaju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$454 R$2,270
$165 Rp 3.0M
174.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.35
13.28
-22.06%

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

Last update for Aracaju: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $178 in Aracaju and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aracaju pays 175% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $22.00 in Aracaju vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $146 vs $302 per month, with Aracaju cheaper across the board.

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
Aracaju vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Aracaju and Ubud, Bali?
Aracaju and Ubud, Bali differ by about 121% in total monthly costs ($643 vs $1,419 including rent). Aracaju is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Aracaju or Ubud, Bali?
Aracaju pays 175% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Aracaju and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $178 in Aracaju versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Aracaju and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $164 in Aracaju versus $304 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 107% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $643 in Aracaju versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Aracaju but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Aracaju the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Aracaju and Ubud, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Aracaju or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Aracaju 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.
Where should expats move: Aracaju or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Aracaju gentler on the wallet – expenses run 121% 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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