Cost of Living Comparison Between Beijing (Pekin) and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Beijing (Pekin) and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,059 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,761 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,463 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Beijing (Pekin) is about 25% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Beijing (Pekin) sits 21% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.15 ¥28.13

$3.56 Rp 64.8K

16.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.92 ¥189

$32.73 Rp 594.6K

-14.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.31 ¥35.99

$4.95 Rp 89.9K

7.27%

Cappuccino

$3.04 ¥20.62

$2.71 Rp 49.3K

12.18%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ¥3.12

$1.34 Rp 24.4K

-65.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ¥2.04

$0.70 Rp 12.7K

-57.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ¥7.73

$2.92 Rp 53.0K

-60.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 ¥14.47

$3.96 Rp 71.9K

-46.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ¥11.69

$1.81 Rp 32.8K

-4.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 ¥10.78

$2.52 Rp 45.7K

-36.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 ¥7.48

$1.16 Rp 21.0K

-5.17%

Eggs

$1.65 ¥11.19

$2.46 Rp 44.7K

-32.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ¥108

$14.71 Rp 267.3K

8.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.22 ¥21.82

$4.32 Rp 78.4K

-25.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.98 ¥67.7

$12.14 Rp 220.5K

-17.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 ¥14.28

$3.84 Rp 69.8K

-45.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ¥10.79

$1.56 Rp 28.3K

1.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.74 ¥11.79

$2.83 Rp 51.5K

-38.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 ¥9.14

$2.33 Rp 42.2K

-42.06%

Potato (1kg)

$0.83 ¥5.66

$1.91 Rp 34.8K

-56.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 ¥6.27

$2.20 Rp 40.0K

-58.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ¥4.85

$1.01 Rp 18.4K

-29.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ¥3.80

$0.78 Rp 14.1K

-28.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.45 ¥23.38

$3.32 Rp 60.2K

3.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.96 ¥101

$23.74 Rp 431.2K

-36.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥5.81

$2.79 Rp 50.7K

-69.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ¥12.50

$2.86 Rp 52.0K

-35.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 ¥3.67

$0.27 Rp 4,883

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.39 ¥213

$8.03 Rp 145.9K

290.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ¥12.53

$0.46 Rp 8,291

302.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 ¥2.42

$0.45 Rp 8,176

-20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.52 ¥71.3

$6.10 Rp 110.7K

72.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ¥7.43

$0.79 Rp 14.4K

39.24%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.2K ¥123.1K

$26.1K Rp 475.0M

-30.59%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$15.4K ¥104.4K

$32.1K Rp 583.5M

-52.09%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$52.7 ¥357

$79.9 Rp 1.5M

-34.08%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.97 ¥60.9

$4.06 Rp 73.8K

120.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.62 ¥85.6

$23.52 Rp 427.3K

-46.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.30 ¥328

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-51.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.96 ¥122

$6.63 Rp 120.4K

170.89%

Cinema Ticket

$8.17 ¥55.4

$4.15 Rp 75.3K

96.87%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$668 ¥4,530

$304 Rp 5.5M

119.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K ¥163.3K

$6,613 Rp 120.1M

264.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.1 ¥414

$55.5 Rp 1.0M

9.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.02 ¥231

$38.31 Rp 695.9K

-11.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.8 ¥521

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

-13.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.1 ¥672

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

27.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$916 ¥6,211

$1,006 Rp 18.3M

-9.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 ¥3,089

$675 Rp 12.3M

-32.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,913 ¥13.0K

$3,442 Rp 62.5M

-44.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,084 ¥7,351

$2,039 Rp 37.0M

-46.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.4K ¥83.9K

$2,841 Rp 51.6M

335.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,323 ¥42.9K

$2,264 Rp 41.1M

179.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,569 ¥10.6K

$165 Rp 3.0M

849.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.64

13.28

-72.59%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Beijing (Pekin): May 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $916 in Beijing (Pekin) versus $1,006 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 849% higher in Beijing (Pekin), which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Beijing (Pekin) versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $223 vs $302 – making Beijing (Pekin) 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

Beijing (Pekin) vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 34%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,589 per month in Beijing (Pekin) and $2,129 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Beijing (Pekin), especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Beijing (Pekin) and $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,059 in Beijing (Pekin) and $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Beijing (Pekin), where all-in costs run around $1,059, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Beijing (Pekin) it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Beijing (Pekin) – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Beijing (Pekin). 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.