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: $2,773 in Aruba versus $1,379 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,890 in Aruba versus $2,363 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,008 in Aruba versus $3,347 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Aruba is roughly 101% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Aruba 102% above, Ubud, Bali 1% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.91 AWG 32.05

$3.31 Rp 58.9K

441.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 AWG 159

$39.08 Rp 694.5K

127.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.56 AWG 18.90

$5.62 Rp 99.8K

87.90%

Cappuccino

$5.19 AWG 9.28

$2.64 Rp 46.9K

96.59%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 AWG 4.57

$1.58 Rp 28.2K

61.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 AWG 4.22

$0.71 Rp 12.6K

232.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.99 AWG 8.92

$2.73 Rp 48.5K

82.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.93 AWG 12.40

$4.32 Rp 76.8K

60.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.38 AWG 4.25

$1.54 Rp 27.4K

54.55%

White Bread (500g)

$3.92 AWG 7.02

$2.30 Rp 40.8K

70.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.85 AWG 6.90

$1.03 Rp 18.3K

273.79%

Eggs

$5.48 AWG 9.80

$2.12 Rp 37.7K

158.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$31.76 AWG 56.8

$17.30 Rp 307.5K

83.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 AWG 11.55

$4.03 Rp 71.6K

60.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.08 AWG 30.57

$12.42 Rp 220.8K

37.52%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 AWG 10.99

$3.70 Rp 65.7K

65.95%

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 AWG 5.09

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

75.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.81 AWG 12.18

$2.27 Rp 40.3K

200.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.02 AWG 14.34

$1.99 Rp 35.4K

303.02%

Potato (1kg)

$3.92 AWG 7.02

$1.83 Rp 32.5K

114.21%

Onion (1kg)

$3.85 AWG 6.88

$2.25 Rp 40.1K

71.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.82 AWG 10.42

$1.04 Rp 18.6K

459.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.77 AWG 6.75

$0.56 Rp 10.0K

573.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.78 AWG 31.82

$2.22 Rp 39.5K

700.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.18 AWG 32.53

$23.22 Rp 412.7K

-21.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 Rp 42.5K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.15 AWG 9.21

$2.87 Rp 51.1K

79.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 AWG 4.53

$0.25 Rp 4,416

912.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.17 Rp 127.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,163

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.70 Rp 101.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.44 AWG 4.37

$0.76 Rp 13.6K

221.05%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.6K Rp 436.7M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.0K Rp 551.5M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$237 AWG 423

$82.2 Rp 1.5M

187.95%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$131 AWG 235

$6.33 Rp 112.5K

1972.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.1 AWG 154

$18.54 Rp 329.6K

364.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.1 Rp 996.2K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.41 Rp 327.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 Rp 75.8K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$296 AWG 530

$489 Rp 8.7M

-39.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.0K AWG 32.2K

$5,793 Rp 103.0M

210.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.98 Rp 817.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.4 AWG 117

$35.86 Rp 637.4K

82.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 AWG 211

$79.5 Rp 1.4M

48.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.9 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$654 AWG 1,171

$1,144 Rp 20.3M

-42.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,397 AWG 2,500

$692 Rp 12.3M

101.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,164 AWG 5,662

$3,532 Rp 62.8M

-10.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,976 AWG 7,115

$1,709 Rp 30.4M

132.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,785 Rp 49.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,261 Rp 40.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,924 AWG 3,442

$169 Rp 3.0M

1036.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

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

Last update for Aruba: August 16, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $654 in Aruba and $1,144 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aruba pays 1036% 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: $89.0 in Aruba vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $529 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

Aruba vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aruba and Ubud, Bali differ by about 101% in total monthly costs ($2,773 vs $1,379 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 1036% higher in Aruba, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $654 in Aruba versus $1,144 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 81% higher in Aruba. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,773 per month in Aruba versus $1,379 in Ubud, Bali – a 101% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,379 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,773 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.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 101% less than in Aruba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.