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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $490 in Ba versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $806 in Ba versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,122 in Ba versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Ba costs roughly 65% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ba is 63% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 FJD 4.38
$3.45 Rp 62.0K
-43.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.04 FJD 67.2
$32.34 Rp 580.1K
-7.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.88 FJD 13.17
$4.84 Rp 86.9K
21.49%
Cappuccino
$2.05 FJD 4.58
$2.75 Rp 49.3K
-25.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 FJD 2.29
$1.38 Rp 24.8K
-26.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 FJD 1.48
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
-12.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 FJD 7.14
$2.99 Rp 53.7K
6.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 FJD 7.90
$3.85 Rp 69.1K
-8.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 FJD 2.89
$1.74 Rp 31.1K
-25.86%
White Bread (500g)
$0.49 FJD 1.10
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
-80.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 FJD 2.70
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
3.42%
Eggs
$3.35 FJD 7.50
$2.43 Rp 43.6K
37.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.51 FJD 21.29
$14.50 Rp 260.2K
-34.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.08 FJD 15.85
$4.35 Rp 78.0K
62.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.54 FJD 16.88
$11.98 Rp 214.9K
-37.06%
Apples (1kg)
$2.53 FJD 5.67
$3.72 Rp 66.7K
-31.99%
Banana (1kg)
$2.52 FJD 5.64
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
54.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.38 FJD 7.57
$2.74 Rp 49.2K
23.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.29 FJD 7.37
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
46.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.54 FJD 3.44
$1.92 Rp 34.4K
-19.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 FJD 2.64
$2.28 Rp 40.8K
-48.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.21 FJD 2.70
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
14.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 FJD 1.83
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
13.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.86 FJD 22.07
$3.29 Rp 58.9K
199.70%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$23.19 Rp 416.1K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 FJD 4.73
$2.78 Rp 49.8K
-23.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 FJD 7.63
$2.73 Rp 49.0K
24.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.27 Rp 4,778
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.11 Rp 145.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.85 FJD 1.90
$0.48 Rp 8,659
77.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.42 Rp 7,532
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.67 FJD 19.41
$6.22 Rp 111.6K
39.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.40 FJD 3.13
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
72.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K FJD 54.7K
$26.6K Rp 477.4M
-8.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K FJD 56.3K
$32.2K Rp 577.4M
-21.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.95 FJD 103
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-41.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.03 FJD 29.16
$4.07 Rp 73.0K
220.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.83 FJD 53.3
$24.33 Rp 436.4K
-2.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.34 Rp 113.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.34 FJD 9.71
$3.99 Rp 71.5K
8.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$229 FJD 514
$305 Rp 5.5M
-24.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.3K FJD 31.9K
$6,642 Rp 119.2M
114.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.30 FJD 58.9
$54.1 Rp 971.2K
-51.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.42 FJD 61.4
$37.81 Rp 678.2K
-27.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.0 FJD 157
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
-19.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.3 FJD 137
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
-19.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$992 Rp 17.8M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$673 Rp 12.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,375 Rp 60.5M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,805 Rp 50.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,227 Rp 39.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$388 FJD 869
$167 Rp 3.0M
132.50%
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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ba pays 132% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $30.00 in Ba vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $297 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 187% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 132% higher in Ba, 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $229 in Ba versus $305 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 and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Ba – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $32.00 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 in Ubud, Bali?
At $490 in Ba versus $1,408 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 $490 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 187% 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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