Cost of Living Comparison Between Benares and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Benares and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $976 per month in Benares vs $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,574 per month in Benares vs $2,557 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,172 per month in Benares vs $3,723 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Benares is about 30% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Benares sits 27% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.75 MUR 316

$3.57 Rp 64.5K

89.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.23 MUR 2,025

$32.32 Rp 583.4K

33.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.52 MUR 305

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

30.14%

Cappuccino

$2.66 MUR 125

$2.82 Rp 51.0K

-5.67%

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

$1.03 MUR 48.37

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

-23.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 MUR 26.28

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

-23.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 MUR 99.5

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

-27.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 MUR 126

$3.94 Rp 71.1K

-31.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 MUR 71.1

$1.78 Rp 32.1K

-14.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 MUR 32.97

$2.45 Rp 44.2K

-71.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 MUR 60.2

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

11.30%

Eggs

$2.23 MUR 104

$2.41 Rp 43.6K

-7.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.70 MUR 454

$14.33 Rp 258.7K

-32.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.09 MUR 285

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

45.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.35 MUR 485

$12.06 Rp 217.7K

-14.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 MUR 92.2

$3.64 Rp 65.7K

-45.88%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 MUR 94.0

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

28.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 MUR 69.7

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

-46.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.60 MUR 122

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

16.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 MUR 47.84

$1.98 Rp 35.7K

-48.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 MUR 47.65

$2.28 Rp 41.1K

-55.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 MUR 37.72

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

-22.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MUR 26.32

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

-29.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.12 MUR 286

$3.19 Rp 57.6K

91.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.22 MUR 385

$23.49 Rp 424.1K

-65.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 MUR 84.7

$2.90 Rp 52.3K

-37.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 MUR 102

$2.76 Rp 49.7K

-21.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.00 MUR 46.72

$0.27 Rp 4,813

270.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 151.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.49 MUR 210

$0.45 Rp 8,167

897.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.61 MUR 122

$0.46 Rp 8,298

467.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.48 MUR 725

$6.07 Rp 109.6K

155.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 MUR 68.4

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

69.77%

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

$35.4K MUR 1.7M

$26.6K Rp 480.0M

33.22%

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

$28.4K MUR 1.3M

$32.5K Rp 587.6M

-12.64%

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

$50.4 MUR 2,361

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

-36.21%

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

$18.43 MUR 863

$4.09 Rp 73.9K

350.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.92 MUR 1,495

$23.85 Rp 430.5K

33.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.06 MUR 1,783

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

-61.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.7K

Cinema Ticket

$6.14 MUR 287

$4.01 Rp 72.3K

53.12%

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

$155 MUR 7,258

$297 Rp 5.4M

-47.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,941 MUR 184.6K

$6,602 Rp 119.2M

-40.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.62 MUR 2,324

$53.4 Rp 964.5K

-7.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.59 MUR 2,042

$38.11 Rp 688.1K

14.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.9 MUR 3,790

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

-8.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.3 MUR 3,759

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

4.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$520 MUR 24.4K

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

-49.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$353 MUR 16.6K

$680 Rp 12.3M

-48.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$939 MUR 44.0K

$3,469 Rp 62.6M

-72.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$726 MUR 34.0K

$2,090 Rp 37.7M

-65.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

13.28

-52.94%

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

Last update for Benares: July 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $520 in Benares 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 $43.00 in Benares versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $213 in Benares vs $298 in Ubud, Bali – so Benares wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Benares vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $976 in Benares, $1,392 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 43% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,464 per month in Benares and $2,088 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Benares, 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 $43.00 in Benares and $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Benares, where all-in costs run around $976, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. In Benares it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Benares has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $976 in Benares to $1,392 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Benares. 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.