🙂A single person spends $569 per month in Banda Aceh vs $1,394 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $899 per month in Banda Aceh vs $2,551 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,229 per month in Banda Aceh vs $3,708 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
🙂Banda Aceh is about 59% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Banda Aceh sits 57% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Banda Aceh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.50Rp 26.5K
$3.40Rp 60.2K
-55.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.31Rp 218.0K
$32.38Rp 573.6K
-61.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.39Rp 60.1K
$5.00Rp 88.6K
-32.20%
Cappuccino
$1.15Rp 20.3K
$2.82Rp 50.0K
-59.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56Rp 9,836
$1.38Rp 24.4K
-59.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,010
$0.73Rp 13.0K
-61.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39Rp 42.4K
$2.98Rp 52.8K
-19.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43Rp 60.8K
$3.97Rp 70.3K
-13.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Banda Aceh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23Rp 21.7K
$1.79Rp 31.8K
-31.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.12Rp 19.9K
$2.46Rp 43.7K
-54.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.64Rp 11.3K
$1.20Rp 21.2K
-46.67%
Eggs
$1.55Rp 27.4K
$2.39Rp 42.3K
-35.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.91Rp 140.1K
$14.40Rp 255.1K
-45.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.20Rp 56.7K
$4.28Rp 75.9K
-25.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.91Rp 140.2K
$11.82Rp 209.4K
-33.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38Rp 42.2K
$3.78Rp 67.0K
-37.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51Rp 26.8K
$1.63Rp 28.9K
-7.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80Rp 32.0K
$2.80Rp 49.6K
-35.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57Rp 27.7K
$2.26Rp 40.0K
-30.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32Rp 23.3K
$2.00Rp 35.3K
-34.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.93Rp 34.2K
$2.21Rp 39.2K
-12.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96Rp 16.9K
$1.07Rp 18.9K
-10.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44Rp 7,802
$0.76Rp 13.5K
-42.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.50Rp 44.3K
$3.13Rp 55.4K
-20.13%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$23.81Rp 421.9K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13Rp 37.7K
$2.84Rp 50.3K
-25.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12Rp 55.3K
$2.78Rp 49.2K
12.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Banda Aceh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,255
$0.27Rp 4,726
11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.74Rp 172.6K
$8.37Rp 148.2K
16.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.54Rp 9,511
$0.45Rp 8,034
20.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,595
$0.43Rp 7,578
-13.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.86Rp 50.7K
$5.98Rp 105.9K
-52.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.56Rp 9,989
$0.80Rp 14.2K
-30.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6KRp 436.6M
$25.8KRp 457.2M
-4.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2KRp 499.5M
$31.8KRp 563.4M
-11.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Banda Aceh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$68.4Rp 1.2M
$80.7Rp 1.4M
-15.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.34Rp 76.8K
$4.14Rp 73.3K
4.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.97Rp 407.0K
$24.12Rp 427.2K
-4.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Banda Aceh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.96Rp 406.6K
$97.8Rp 1.7M
-76.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.10Rp 108.0K
$6.64Rp 117.7K
-8.13%
Cinema Ticket
$3.05Rp 54.0K
$4.04Rp 71.5K
-24.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Banda Aceh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$92.1Rp 1.6M
$297Rp 5.3M
-69.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,479Rp 132.5M
$6,590Rp 116.7M
13.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Banda Aceh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.70Rp 579.3K
$55.1Rp 976.8K
-40.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.79Rp 403.8K
$38.51Rp 682.1K
-40.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$35.50Rp 628.8K
$86.1Rp 1.5M
-58.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$34.05Rp 603.2K
$78.0Rp 1.4M
-56.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Banda Aceh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$255Rp 4.5M
$985Rp 17.5M
-74.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.8M
$665Rp 11.8M
-76.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$580Rp 10.3M
$3,446Rp 61.0M
-83.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$327Rp 5.8M
$2,042Rp 36.2M
-83.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,829Rp 50.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,282Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Banda Aceh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$169Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
13.28
-31.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Banda Aceh: June 15, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $255 in Banda Aceh versus $985 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Banda Aceh versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $166 vs $299 – making Banda Aceh 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
Banda Aceh vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Banda Aceh?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 145%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $853 per month in Banda Aceh and $2,091 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Banda Aceh, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $92.1 per month in Banda Aceh and $297 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Banda Aceh and Ubud, Bali?
Groceries cost about 81% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Banda Aceh or Ubud, Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banda Aceh, where all-in costs run around $569, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,394. In Banda Aceh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Banda Aceh or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Banda Aceh – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Banda Aceh or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Banda Aceh. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Banda Aceh vs other spots: cost of living compared