Cost of Living Comparison Between Bocas del Toro and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Bocas del Toro and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,407 in Bocas del Toro versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,977 in Bocas del Toro versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,546 in Bocas del Toro versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Bocas del Toro costs roughly 1% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bocas del Toro 5% above, Ubud, Bali 6% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.63 PAB 9.63

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

170.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.0 PAB 50.0

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

52.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.98 PAB 9.98

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

101.62%

Cappuccino

$4.09 PAB 4.09

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

50.92%

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

$1.71 PAB 1.71

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

27.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 PAB 1.60

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

128.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PAB 1.99

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

-31.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 PAB 3.97

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

0.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

White Bread (500g)

$3.81 PAB 3.81

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

51.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

Eggs

$2.57 PAB 2.57

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

4.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.92 PAB 16.92

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

15.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.94 PAB 8.94

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

106.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.24 PAB 8.24

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

-32.13%

Apples (1kg)

$4.45 PAB 4.45

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

15.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 PAB 1.54

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

-1.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 PAB 4.97

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

113.30%

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 PAB 3.24

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

69.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 PAB 1.58

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

102.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 PAB 2.78

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

-0.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 PAB 2.53

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

-11.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

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

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

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

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

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

$30.31 PAB 30.31

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

646.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.61 PAB 35.61

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

51.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$758 PAB 758

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

-24.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$890 PAB 890

$675 Rp 12.1M

31.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 PAB 1,211

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

-64.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,205 PAB 1,205

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

-40.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$698 PAB 698

$165 Rp 3.0M

322.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Bocas del Toro: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $758 in Bocas del Toro and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bocas del Toro pays 322% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $50.0 in Bocas del Toro vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $273 vs $302, with Bocas del Toro cheaper for home cooking.

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

Bocas del Toro vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bocas del Toro and Ubud, Bali differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($1,407 vs $1,419 including rent). Bocas del Toro is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Bocas del Toro pays 322% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $758 in Bocas del Toro versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Bocas del Toro – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,407 per month in Bocas del Toro versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,407 in Bocas del Toro versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bocas del Toro but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Bocas del Toro the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Bocas del Toro 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.

Expats usually find Bocas del Toro gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.