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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,848 in Aruba versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,042 in Aruba versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,236 in Aruba versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Aruba is roughly 103% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Aruba 112% above, Ubud, Bali 4% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aruba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.10 AWG 23.44
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
266.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.6 AWG 160
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
175.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.07 AWG 18.02
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
107.20%
Cappuccino
$4.82 AWG 8.63
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
75.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 AWG 4.10
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
73.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 AWG 3.56
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
184.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.28 AWG 7.66
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
47.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.21 AWG 11.12
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
63.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aruba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.36 AWG 4.23
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
38.01%
White Bread (500g)
$3.91 AWG 7.00
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
58.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.92 AWG 7.01
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
226.67%
Eggs
$5.42 AWG 9.69
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
122.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$32.06 AWG 57.4
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
122.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.61 AWG 11.83
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
53.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.67 AWG 29.83
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
36.53%
Apples (1kg)
$5.93 AWG 10.61
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
61.14%
Banana (1kg)
$2.83 AWG 5.07
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
82.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.96 AWG 12.46
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
149.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.92 AWG 14.18
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
239.91%
Potato (1kg)
$3.90 AWG 6.98
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
97.97%
Onion (1kg)
$3.80 AWG 6.80
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
64.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$6.15 AWG 11.01
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
480.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.71 AWG 6.63
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
408.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.60 AWG 31.49
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
436.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.15 AWG 32.49
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
-20.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.95 AWG 8.87
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
78.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Aruba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.29 Rp 5,217
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$0.45 Rp 8,047
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.45 Rp 8,094
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 AWG 2.54
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
67.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aruba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$257 AWG 461
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
218.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$133 AWG 238
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
3175.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.0 AWG 120
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
174.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aruba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.5 AWG 106
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
-39.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.97 AWG 23.22
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
221.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aruba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 AWG 542
$304 Rp 5.4M
-0.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K AWG 31.6K
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
166.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aruba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.9 AWG 91.1
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
-6.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.2 AWG 118
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
70.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 AWG 216
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
40.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aruba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$724 AWG 1,295
$986 Rp 17.7M
-26.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,382 AWG 2,473
$658 Rp 11.8M
109.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,200 AWG 5,727
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
-5.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,041 AWG 7,233
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
95.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aruba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,943 AWG 3,477
$163 Rp 2.9M
1088.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
13.28
-47.29%

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

Last update for Aruba: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $724 in Aruba and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aruba pays 1089% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $90.0 in Aruba vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $528 vs $297 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
Aruba vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Aruba and Ubud, Bali?
Aruba and Ubud, Bali differ by about 103% in total monthly costs ($2,848 vs $1,404 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Aruba or Ubud, Bali?
Aruba pays 1089% 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 Aruba and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $724 in Aruba versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 78% higher in Aruba. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Aruba or Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $2,848 per month in Aruba versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali – a 103% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,848 in Aruba, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Aruba. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Aruba 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 Aruba or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Aruba 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: Aruba or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 103% less than in Aruba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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