Cost of Living Comparison Between Ba and Ubud, BaliCost of Living Comparison Between Ba and Ubud, Bali
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $481 in Ba versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $817 in Ba versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,152 in Ba versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Ba costs roughly 66% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ba is 64% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95FJD 4.29
$3.56Rp 63.7K
-45.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.50FJD 64.7
$32.73Rp 584.5K
-9.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.85FJD 12.84
$4.95Rp 88.4K
18.18%
Cappuccino
$1.95FJD 4.28
$2.71Rp 48.4K
-28.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98FJD 2.14
$1.34Rp 24.0K
-26.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65FJD 1.42
$0.70Rp 12.5K
-7.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.04FJD 6.66
$2.92Rp 52.1K
4.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43FJD 7.52
$3.96Rp 70.7K
-13.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33FJD 2.93
$1.81Rp 32.3K
-26.52%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52FJD 1.15
$2.52Rp 45.0K
-79.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17FJD 2.57
$1.16Rp 20.7K
0.86%
Eggs
$3.47FJD 7.60
$2.46Rp 43.9K
41.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.37FJD 20.55
$14.71Rp 262.7K
-36.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.15FJD 15.69
$4.32Rp 77.1K
65.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.41FJD 16.25
$12.14Rp 216.7K
-38.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.45FJD 5.36
$3.84Rp 68.6K
-36.20%
Banana(1kg)
$2.55FJD 5.59
$1.56Rp 27.8K
63.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.40FJD 7.45
$2.83Rp 50.6K
20.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.22FJD 7.06
$2.33Rp 41.5K
38.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.46FJD 3.19
$1.91Rp 34.2K
-23.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.23FJD 2.71
$2.20Rp 39.3K
-44.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22FJD 2.67
$1.01Rp 18.1K
20.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76FJD 1.66
$0.78Rp 13.8K
-2.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.96FJD 21.84
$3.32Rp 59.2K
200.00%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$23.74Rp 423.9K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20FJD 4.83
$2.79Rp 49.8K
-21.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45FJD 7.56
$2.86Rp 51.1K
20.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.27Rp 4,800
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.03Rp 143.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.92FJD 2.01
$0.46Rp 8,150
100.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.45Rp 8,037
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.84FJD 19.39
$6.10Rp 108.9K
44.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37FJD 3.01
$0.79Rp 14.2K
73.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.1KFJD 52.8K
$26.1KRp 467.0M
-7.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9KFJD 54.6K
$32.1KRp 573.6M
-22.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.80FJD 100
$79.9Rp 1.4M
-42.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.27FJD 29.10
$4.06Rp 72.6K
226.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.01FJD 52.7
$23.52Rp 420.0K
2.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.63Rp 118.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.55FJD 9.97
$4.15Rp 74.1K
9.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$228FJD 501
$304Rp 5.4M
-24.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.2KFJD 31.2K
$6,613Rp 118.1M
114.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.29FJD 57.7
$55.5Rp 991.8K
-52.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.70FJD 60.8
$38.31Rp 684.1K
-27.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.6FJD 155
$88.6Rp 1.6M
-20.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.2FJD 136
$77.9Rp 1.4M
-20.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,006Rp 18.0M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$675Rp 12.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,442Rp 61.5M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,039Rp 36.4M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,841Rp 50.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,264Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$392FJD 859
$165Rp 3.0M
137.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
13.28
-69.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ba: June 1, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Ba pays 137% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $29.00 in Ba vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $302 per month, with Ba 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
Ba vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ba or Ubud, Bali?
Ba wins on cost – living expenses run 195% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ba the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ba or Ubud, Bali?
Ba pays 137% 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 childcare costs compare in Ba and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $228 in Ba versus $304 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Ba vs Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Ba – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ba or Ubud, Bali?
At $481 in Ba versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ba but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Ba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ba or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ba delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $481 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ba hard to pass up.
How safe is Ba compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Ba 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 Ba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 195% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.