Cost of Living Comparison Between Banda Aceh and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Banda Aceh and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $583 per month in Banda Aceh vs $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $906 per month in Banda Aceh vs $2,557 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,229 per month in Banda Aceh vs $3,723 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Banda Aceh is about 58% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Banda Aceh sits 56% 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
$1.56 Rp 28.1K
$3.57 Rp 64.5K
-56.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.45 Rp 224.7K
$32.32 Rp 583.4K
-61.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.28 Rp 59.3K
$5.01 Rp 90.4K
-34.53%
Cappuccino
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
$2.82 Rp 51.0K
-59.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,286
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
-62.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 Rp 5,063
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
-61.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 Rp 44.0K
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
-16.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 Rp 63.3K
$3.94 Rp 71.1K
-10.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Banda Aceh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 Rp 21.4K
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
-33.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.18 Rp 21.4K
$2.45 Rp 44.2K
-51.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.64 Rp 11.5K
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
-44.35%
Eggs
$1.54 Rp 27.8K
$2.41 Rp 43.6K
-36.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.00 Rp 144.3K
$14.33 Rp 258.7K
-44.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.13 Rp 56.5K
$4.19 Rp 75.6K
-25.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.96 Rp 143.7K
$12.06 Rp 217.7K
-34.00%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
$3.64 Rp 65.7K
-35.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
-4.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 Rp 32.4K
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
-35.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 Rp 27.0K
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
-33.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 Rp 23.9K
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
-33.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.96 Rp 35.4K
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
-14.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 Rp 16.1K
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
-15.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 Rp 8,115
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
-43.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.56 Rp 46.2K
$3.19 Rp 57.6K
-19.75%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$23.49 Rp 424.1K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 Rp 36.7K
$2.90 Rp 52.3K
-30.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 Rp 57.9K
$2.76 Rp 49.7K
16.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Banda Aceh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 Rp 5,381
$0.27 Rp 4,813
11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.73 Rp 175.7K
$8.37 Rp 151.1K
16.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.53 Rp 9,542
$0.45 Rp 8,167
17.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 Rp 6,201
$0.46 Rp 8,298
-26.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.85 Rp 51.4K
$6.07 Rp 109.6K
-53.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.60 Rp 10.8K
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
-30.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K Rp 449.7M
$26.6K Rp 480.0M
-6.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K Rp 499.6M
$32.5K Rp 587.6M
-14.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Banda Aceh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.1 Rp 1.3M
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
-11.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.20 Rp 75.8K
$4.09 Rp 73.9K
2.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.02 Rp 415.5K
$23.85 Rp 430.5K
-3.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Banda Aceh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.46 Rp 423.5K
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
-76.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.13 Rp 110.7K
$6.35 Rp 114.7K
-3.46%
Cinema Ticket
$3.03 Rp 54.6K
$4.01 Rp 72.3K
-24.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Banda Aceh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$93.1 Rp 1.7M
$297 Rp 5.4M
-68.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,626 Rp 137.7M
$6,602 Rp 119.2M
15.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Banda Aceh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.92 Rp 576.2K
$53.4 Rp 964.5K
-40.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.38 Rp 422.1K
$38.11 Rp 688.1K
-38.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$35.46 Rp 640.1K
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
-60.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$34.16 Rp 616.6K
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
-55.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Banda Aceh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$258 Rp 4.6M
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
-74.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$158 Rp 2.8M
$680 Rp 12.3M
-76.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$579 Rp 10.5M
$3,469 Rp 62.6M
-83.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$337 Rp 6.1M
$2,090 Rp 37.7M
-83.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,295 Rp 41.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Banda Aceh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$164 Rp 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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $258 in Banda Aceh versus $1,020 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: $165 vs $298 – 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 139%, 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 $874 per month in Banda Aceh and $2,088 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 $93.1 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 in 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 living in Banda Aceh or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banda Aceh, where all-in costs run around $583, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. 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.

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