🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $644 in Bandung versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $939 in Bandung versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,234 in Bandung versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Bandung costs roughly 54% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bandung is 53% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandung
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.39Rp 24.7K
$3.37Rp 59.8K
-58.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.39Rp 255.0K
$38.59Rp 683.8K
-62.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.31Rp 58.7K
$5.52Rp 97.8K
-40.04%
Cappuccino
$1.57Rp 27.8K
$2.64Rp 46.9K
-40.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,438
$1.67Rp 29.6K
-74.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25Rp 4,461
$0.77Rp 13.6K
-67.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15Rp 55.9K
$2.63Rp 46.7K
19.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02Rp 53.6K
$4.28Rp 75.9K
-29.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandung
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12Rp 19.9K
$1.55Rp 27.4K
-27.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.00Rp 17.7K
$2.22Rp 39.4K
-54.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.82Rp 14.5K
$1.13Rp 19.9K
-27.43%
Eggs
$1.49Rp 26.4K
$2.09Rp 37.0K
-28.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.31Rp 129.6K
$17.39Rp 308.2K
-57.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.00Rp 53.2K
$3.87Rp 68.5K
-22.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.16Rp 144.5K
$12.55Rp 222.4K
-34.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27Rp 40.3K
$3.62Rp 64.1K
-37.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08Rp 19.1K
$1.56Rp 27.6K
-30.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55Rp 27.4K
$2.35Rp 41.7K
-34.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.97Rp 17.2K
$2.06Rp 36.4K
-52.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.09Rp 19.4K
$1.90Rp 33.7K
-42.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.91Rp 33.8K
$2.34Rp 41.4K
-18.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69Rp 12.3K
$1.03Rp 18.3K
-33.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44Rp 7,748
$0.55Rp 9,830
-20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.66Rp 47.2K
$2.25Rp 39.9K
18.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.71Rp 402.5K
$23.81Rp 421.9K
-4.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84Rp 32.6K
$2.31Rp 41.0K
-20.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31Rp 58.7K
$2.80Rp 49.6K
18.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Bandung
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,209
$0.27Rp 4,827
7.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.46Rp 167.6K
$8.66Rp 153.5K
9.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.87Rp 15.5K
$0.48Rp 8,533
81.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.52Rp 9,204
$0.45Rp 7,904
15.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.29Rp 40.5K
$5.72Rp 101.4K
-59.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78Rp 13.9K
$0.76Rp 13.4K
2.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KRp 375.4M
$24.5KRp 433.9M
-13.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5KRp 523.7M
$32.1KRp 569.3M
-8.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandung
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$34.35Rp 608.8K
$83.6Rp 1.5M
-58.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.29Rp 76.0K
$6.46Rp 114.4K
-33.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.31Rp 342.2K
$18.99Rp 336.6K
1.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandung
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.65Rp 330.6K
$56.0Rp 992.0K
-66.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.80Rp 102.8K
$18.62Rp 329.9K
-68.85%
Cinema Ticket
$2.86Rp 50.7K
$4.28Rp 75.9K
-33.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandung
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$97.1Rp 1.7M
$487Rp 8.6M
-80.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,509Rp 150.8M
$5,856Rp 103.8M
45.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandung
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.89Rp 689.2K
$45.56Rp 807.4K
-14.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.08Rp 586.2K
$36.38Rp 644.7K
-9.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.7Rp 1.4M
$82.0Rp 1.5M
-6.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.4Rp 1.2M
$80.4Rp 1.4M
-12.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandung
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$219Rp 3.9M
$1,117Rp 19.8M
-80.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$183Rp 3.2M
$701Rp 12.4M
-73.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$385Rp 6.8M
$3,537Rp 62.7M
-89.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$268Rp 4.7M
$1,762Rp 31.2M
-84.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$718Rp 12.7M
$2,826Rp 50.1M
-74.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$310Rp 5.5M
$2,292Rp 40.6M
-86.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandung
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$285Rp 5.1M
$170Rp 3.0M
68.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.38
13.78
-17.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bandung: August 31, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $219 in Bandung and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bandung pays 68% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $14.00 in Bandung vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $293 per month, with Bandung 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
Bandung vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bandung or Ubud, Bali?
Bandung wins on cost – living expenses run 117% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bandung the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bandung or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 68% higher in Bandung, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bandung compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $219 in Bandung versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Bandung or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Bandung and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Bandung – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $39.00 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 Bandung or in Ubud, Bali?
At $644 in Bandung versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bandung but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Bandung the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bandung or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bandung delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $644 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bandung hard to pass up.
How safe is Bandung compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Bandung 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 Bandung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 117% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.