😐A single person spends $2,271 per month in Ballina vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,357 per month in Ballina vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,442 per month in Ballina vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
😐Ballina costs about 63% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Ballina and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Ballina by 65%, Ubud, Bali by 2%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.19
$3.37Rp 59.5K
424.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.8€60.1
$38.59Rp 680.4K
80.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.61€10.85
$5.52Rp 97.3K
128.44%
Cappuccino
$4.04€3.48
$2.64Rp 46.6K
53.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61€1.38
$1.67Rp 29.5K
-3.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.17
$0.77Rp 13.6K
76.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.83€5.01
$2.63Rp 46.4K
121.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.51€6.46
$4.28Rp 75.5K
75.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74€1.50
$1.55Rp 27.3K
12.26%
White Bread(500g)
$2.32€2.00
$2.22Rp 39.2K
4.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$1.13Rp 19.8K
74.34%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.09Rp 36.8K
54.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.70€12.65
$17.39Rp 306.7K
-15.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.24€11.39
$3.87Rp 68.2K
242.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.38€14.95
$12.55Rp 221.3K
38.49%
Apples(1kg)
$3.43€2.95
$3.62Rp 63.8K
-5.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62€1.39
$1.56Rp 27.5K
3.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.47€2.98
$2.35Rp 41.5K
47.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.88€4.20
$2.06Rp 36.2K
136.89%
Potato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.90Rp 33.5K
29.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.84€1.58
$2.34Rp 41.2K
-21.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$1.03Rp 18.2K
39.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17€1.87
$0.55Rp 9,781
294.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$21.07€18.13
$2.25Rp 39.7K
836.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28€8.84
$23.81Rp 419.8K
-56.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.28€3.69
$2.31Rp 40.8K
85.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75€3.22
$2.80Rp 49.4K
33.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.79€4.98
$0.27Rp 4,803
2044.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$137€118
$8.66Rp 152.7K
1483.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39€4.64
$0.48Rp 8,490
1022.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53€1.32
$0.45Rp 7,865
240.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.73€29.88
$5.72Rp 100.8K
507.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.79
$0.76Rp 13.4K
175.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K€30.5K
$24.5KRp 431.7M
44.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.0K
$32.1KRp 566.4M
23.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$251€216
$83.6Rp 1.5M
200.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.99€19.78
$6.46Rp 113.8K
255.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.26€34.64
$18.99Rp 334.9K
112.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.1€45.71
$56.0Rp 987.0K
-5.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.57€9.95
$18.62Rp 328.3K
-37.86%
Cinema Ticket
$12.80€11.01
$4.28Rp 75.5K
199.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,098€944
$487Rp 8.6M
125.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,510€4,741
$5,856Rp 103.3M
-5.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.2€85.4
$45.56Rp 803.3K
117.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.90€37.78
$36.38Rp 641.5K
20.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107€92.0
$82.0Rp 1.4M
30.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.8
$80.4Rp 1.4M
44.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$941€810
$1,117Rp 19.7M
-15.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$888€764
$701Rp 12.4M
26.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,347€1,159
$3,537Rp 62.4M
-61.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,380€1,187
$1,762Rp 31.1M
-21.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,539€3,046
$2,826Rp 49.8M
25.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,931€2,522
$2,292Rp 40.4M
27.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,432€2,953
$170Rp 3.0M
1921.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.14
13.78
-69.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ballina: September 1, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $941 in Ballina versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 1921% higher in Ballina, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Ballina versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $381 vs $293 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Ballina vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ballina or Ubud, Bali?
Ballina costs about 63% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ballina and in Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,407 per month in Ballina and $2,095 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ballina or Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Ballina compared to Ubud, Bali?
Public transport costs about 1483% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Ballina and in Ubud, Bali?
Kindergarten costs $1,098 per month in Ballina and $487 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ballina or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,396, than in Ballina at $2,271. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ballina it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ballina or Ubud, Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,396 versus $2,271 in Ballina. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ballina compared to Ubud, Bali?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Ballina or to Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ballina makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.