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

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$3.37 Rp 59.5K
424.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.8 €60.1
$38.59 Rp 680.4K
80.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.61 €10.85
$5.52 Rp 97.3K
128.44%
Cappuccino
$4.04 €3.48
$2.64 Rp 46.6K
53.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 €1.38
$1.67 Rp 29.5K
-3.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.17
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
76.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.83 €5.01
$2.63 Rp 46.4K
121.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.51 €6.46
$4.28 Rp 75.5K
75.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 €1.50
$1.55 Rp 27.3K
12.26%
White Bread (500g)
$2.32 €2.00
$2.22 Rp 39.2K
4.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 €1.70
$1.13 Rp 19.8K
74.34%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$2.09 Rp 36.8K
54.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.70 €12.65
$17.39 Rp 306.7K
-15.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.24 €11.39
$3.87 Rp 68.2K
242.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.38 €14.95
$12.55 Rp 221.3K
38.49%
Apples (1kg)
$3.43 €2.95
$3.62 Rp 63.8K
-5.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 €1.39
$1.56 Rp 27.5K
3.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.47 €2.98
$2.35 Rp 41.5K
47.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.88 €4.20
$2.06 Rp 36.2K
136.89%
Potato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$1.90 Rp 33.5K
29.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.84 €1.58
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
-21.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.24
$1.03 Rp 18.2K
39.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 €1.87
$0.55 Rp 9,781
294.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$21.07 €18.13
$2.25 Rp 39.7K
836.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.28 €8.84
$23.81 Rp 419.8K
-56.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.28 €3.69
$2.31 Rp 40.8K
85.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 €3.22
$2.80 Rp 49.4K
33.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.79 €4.98
$0.27 Rp 4,803
2044.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$137 €118
$8.66 Rp 152.7K
1483.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 €4.64
$0.48 Rp 8,490
1022.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 €1.32
$0.45 Rp 7,865
240.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.73 €29.88
$5.72 Rp 100.8K
507.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 €1.79
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
175.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K €30.5K
$24.5K Rp 431.7M
44.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K €34.0K
$32.1K Rp 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
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
200.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.99 €19.78
$6.46 Rp 113.8K
255.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.26 €34.64
$18.99 Rp 334.9K
112.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.1 €45.71
$56.0 Rp 987.0K
-5.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.57 €9.95
$18.62 Rp 328.3K
-37.86%
Cinema Ticket
$12.80 €11.01
$4.28 Rp 75.5K
199.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,098 €944
$487 Rp 8.6M
125.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,510 €4,741
$5,856 Rp 103.3M
-5.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.2 €85.4
$45.56 Rp 803.3K
117.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.90 €37.78
$36.38 Rp 641.5K
20.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 €92.0
$82.0 Rp 1.4M
30.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 €99.8
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
44.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$941 €810
$1,117 Rp 19.7M
-15.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$888 €764
$701 Rp 12.4M
26.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,347 €1,159
$3,537 Rp 62.4M
-61.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,380 €1,187
$1,762 Rp 31.1M
-21.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,539 €3,046
$2,826 Rp 49.8M
25.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,931 €2,522
$2,292 Rp 40.4M
27.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,432 €2,953
$170 Rp 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.

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