Cost of Living Comparison Between Bellingham, WA and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Bellingham, WA and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,785 per month in Bellingham, WA vs $1,397 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,209 per month in Bellingham, WA vs $2,588 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,633 per month in Bellingham, WA vs $3,778 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Bellingham, WA costs about 99% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Bellingham, WA and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Bellingham, WA by 108%, Ubud, Bali by 5%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bellingham, WA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.65 $19.65
$3.43 Rp 61.4K
472.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.3 $86.3
$31.97 Rp 572.4K
169.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.06 $13.06
$5.05 Rp 90.4K
158.61%
Cappuccino
$5.33 $5.33
$2.71 Rp 48.6K
96.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.39 Rp 24.9K
84.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$0.74 Rp 13.3K
168.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.14 $7.14
$2.89 Rp 51.8K
147.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.84 $5.84
$3.79 Rp 67.9K
54.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bellingham, WA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.79 Rp 32.1K
-43.58%
White Bread (500g)
$3.81 $3.81
$2.51 Rp 44.9K
51.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.19 $4.19
$1.21 Rp 21.7K
246.28%
Eggs
$4.36 $4.36
$2.37 Rp 42.4K
83.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.33 $17.33
$14.43 Rp 258.4K
20.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.79 $15.79
$4.15 Rp 74.3K
280.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.32 $15.32
$12.11 Rp 216.9K
26.51%
Apples (1kg)
$5.63 $5.63
$3.77 Rp 67.5K
49.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.63 Rp 29.1K
1.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.29 $4.29
$2.71 Rp 48.5K
58.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.14 $5.14
$2.26 Rp 40.4K
127.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.93 Rp 34.5K
52.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.25 $2.25
$2.19 Rp 39.3K
2.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.02 Rp 18.2K
116.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$0.72 Rp 12.8K
256.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.70 $12.70
$3.18 Rp 57.0K
299.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.18 $15.18
$23.84 Rp 426.8K
-36.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.77 Rp 49.7K
-36.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 $4.59
$2.75 Rp 49.3K
66.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Bellingham, WA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.97 $0.97
$0.27 Rp 4,786
259.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.42 $29.42
$8.20 Rp 146.8K
258.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.10 $10.10
$0.48 Rp 8,653
2004.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$0.42 Rp 7,545
295.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$53.3 $53.3
$6.03 Rp 107.9K
784.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$0.82 Rp 14.7K
41.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K $35.4K
$26.6K Rp 475.6M
33.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$32.2K Rp 576.6M
-20.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bellingham, WA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
128.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.4 $53.4
$3.91 Rp 70.1K
1264.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.4 $75.4
$23.91 Rp 428.2K
215.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bellingham, WA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$70.1 $70.1
$96.2 Rp 1.7M
-27.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.53 Rp 116.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.71 $17.71
$4.01 Rp 71.9K
341.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bellingham, WA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,429 $1,429
$303 Rp 5.4M
372.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K $23.3K
$6,551 Rp 117.3M
256.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bellingham, WA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.8 $50.8
$55.3 Rp 990.4K
-8.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.19 $28.19
$38.32 Rp 686.1K
-26.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 $95.4
$88.5 Rp 1.6M
7.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 $150
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
95.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bellingham, WA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,687 $1,687
$986 Rp 17.6M
71.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,467 $1,467
$682 Rp 12.2M
115.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,772 $2,772
$3,420 Rp 61.2M
-18.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,528 $2,528
$2,075 Rp 37.1M
21.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,029 $4,029
$2,762 Rp 49.5M
45.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,075 $4,075
$2,243 Rp 40.2M
81.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bellingham, WA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,130 $4,130
$169 Rp 3.0M
2347.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.61
13.28
-50.23%

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

Last update for Bellingham, WA: July 21, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,687 in Bellingham, WA versus $986 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 2348% higher in Bellingham, WA, 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 $86.0 in Bellingham, WA versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $441 vs $298 – 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
Bellingham, WA vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bellingham, WA or Ubud, Bali?
Bellingham, WA costs about 99% 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 Bellingham, WA and in Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,177 per month in Bellingham, WA and $2,096 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bellingham, WA 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 do childcare costs compare in Bellingham, WA and in Ubud, Bali?
Kindergarten costs $1,429 per month in Bellingham, WA and $303 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Bellingham, WA or in Ubud, Bali?
Groceries cost about 48% more in Bellingham, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bellingham, WA or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,397, than in Bellingham, WA at $2,785. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bellingham, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bellingham, WA or Ubud, Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,397 versus $2,785 in Bellingham, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bellingham, WA 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 Bellingham, WA or to Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bellingham, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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