🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Arecibo versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,036 in Arecibo versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,785 in Arecibo versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Arecibo costs roughly 8% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Arecibo is 6% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arecibo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.05$12.05
$3.37Rp 59.9K
257.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.4$85.4
$38.59Rp 685.5K
121.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31$8.31
$5.52Rp 98.1K
50.54%
Cappuccino
$3.40$3.40
$2.64Rp 47.0K
28.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87$1.87
$1.67Rp 29.7K
11.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45$1.45
$0.77Rp 13.7K
88.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.06$3.06
$2.63Rp 46.8K
16.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.01$5.01
$4.28Rp 76.1K
17.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arecibo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87$1.87
$1.55Rp 27.5K
20.65%
White Bread(500g)
$3.36$3.36
$2.22Rp 39.5K
51.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.00$2.00
$1.13Rp 20.0K
76.99%
Eggs
$4.57$4.57
$2.09Rp 37.1K
118.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.57$12.57
$17.39Rp 309.0K
-27.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.40$9.40
$3.87Rp 68.7K
142.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.13$13.13
$12.55Rp 222.9K
4.62%
Apples(1kg)
$5.18$5.18
$3.62Rp 64.2K
43.09%
Banana(1kg)
$2.59$2.59
$1.56Rp 27.7K
66.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.91$4.91
$2.35Rp 41.8K
108.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.84$4.84
$2.06Rp 36.5K
134.95%
Potato(1kg)
$3.70$3.70
$1.90Rp 33.7K
94.74%
Onion(1kg)
$3.89$3.89
$2.34Rp 41.5K
66.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.43$3.43
$1.03Rp 18.3K
233.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57$1.57
$0.55Rp 9,854
185.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.06$12.06
$2.25Rp 40.0K
436.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.71$15.71
$23.81Rp 422.9K
-34.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.06$3.06
$2.31Rp 41.1K
32.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92$3.92
$2.80Rp 49.8K
40.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Arecibo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.27Rp 4,839
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.73$39.73
$8.66Rp 153.9K
358.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.44$2.44
$0.48Rp 8,554
408.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53$1.53
$0.45Rp 7,924
240.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.75$42.75
$5.72Rp 101.6K
647.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.89$0.89
$0.76Rp 13.5K
17.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.6K$40.6K
$24.5KRp 434.9M
65.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K$27.7K
$32.1KRp 570.6M
-13.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arecibo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$324$324
$83.6Rp 1.5M
287.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.2$69.2
$6.46Rp 114.7K
971.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.2$64.2
$18.99Rp 337.4K
237.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arecibo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$56.0Rp 994.4K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.62Rp 330.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.35$10.35
$4.28Rp 76.1K
141.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arecibo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$820$820
$487Rp 8.6M
68.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.3K$12.3K
$5,856Rp 104.0M
110.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arecibo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.5$56.5
$45.56Rp 809.3K
23.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.0$62.0
$36.38Rp 646.3K
70.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110$110
$82.0Rp 1.5M
34.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112$112
$80.4Rp 1.4M
39.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arecibo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,117Rp 19.8M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$701Rp 12.5M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,537Rp 62.8M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,762Rp 31.3M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,826Rp 50.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,292Rp 40.7M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arecibo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,192$1,192
$170Rp 3.0M
602.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.55
13.78
-52.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Arecibo: August 30, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Arecibo pays 602% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $85.0 in Arecibo vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $394 vs $293 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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
Arecibo vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Arecibo?
Arecibo is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Arecibo or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 602% higher in Arecibo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do food prices compare in Arecibo and in Ubud, Bali?
Shoppers in Ubud, Bali pay roughly 35% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Arecibo or in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Arecibo – a meal for two runs $85.0 versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Arecibo or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,287 in Arecibo versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Arecibo but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Arecibo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Arecibo or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Arecibo is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Arecibo or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Arecibo 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Arecibo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.