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: $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
$1.95 FJD 4.29
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
-45.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.50 FJD 64.7
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
-9.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.85 FJD 12.84
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
18.18%
Cappuccino
$1.95 FJD 4.28
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
-28.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 FJD 2.14
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
-26.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 FJD 1.42
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
-7.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 FJD 6.66
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
4.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 FJD 7.52
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
-13.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 FJD 2.93
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
-26.52%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 FJD 1.15
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
-79.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 FJD 2.57
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
0.86%
Eggs
$3.47 FJD 7.60
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
41.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.37 FJD 20.55
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
-36.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.15 FJD 15.69
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
65.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.41 FJD 16.25
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
-38.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.45 FJD 5.36
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
-36.20%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 FJD 5.59
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
63.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.40 FJD 7.45
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
20.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.22 FJD 7.06
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
38.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 FJD 3.19
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
-23.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.23 FJD 2.71
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
-44.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.22 FJD 2.67
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
20.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 FJD 1.66
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
-2.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.96 FJD 21.84
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
200.00%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 FJD 4.83
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
-21.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 FJD 7.56
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
20.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.27 Rp 4,800
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.92 FJD 2.01
$0.46 Rp 8,150
100.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.45 Rp 8,037
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.84 FJD 19.39
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
44.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 FJD 3.01
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
73.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.1K FJD 52.8K
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
-7.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K FJD 54.6K
$32.1K Rp 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)
$45.80 FJD 100
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
-42.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.27 FJD 29.10
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
226.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.01 FJD 52.7
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
2.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.55 FJD 9.97
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
9.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$228 FJD 501
$304 Rp 5.4M
-24.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.2K FJD 31.2K
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
114.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.29 FJD 57.7
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
-52.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.70 FJD 60.8
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
-27.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.6 FJD 155
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
-20.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.2 FJD 136
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
-20.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$675 Rp 12.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$392 FJD 859
$165 Rp 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.

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