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: $1,500 in Bocas del Toro versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,069 in Bocas del Toro versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,639 in Bocas del Toro versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Bocas del Toro is roughly 7% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bocas del Toro 9% above, Ubud, Bali 2% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.43 PAB 9.43

$3.37 Rp 59.9K

179.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.7 PAB 50.7

$38.59 Rp 685.5K

31.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.81 PAB 9.81

$5.52 Rp 98.1K

77.72%

Cappuccino

$4.09 PAB 4.09

$2.64 Rp 47.0K

54.92%

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

$1.78 PAB 1.78

$1.67 Rp 29.7K

6.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 PAB 1.59

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

106.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 PAB 2.05

$2.63 Rp 46.8K

-22.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 PAB 3.89

$4.28 Rp 76.1K

-9.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 PAB 2.01

$1.55 Rp 27.5K

29.68%

White Bread (500g)

$3.89 PAB 3.89

$2.22 Rp 39.5K

75.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 Rp 20.0K

Eggs

$2.59 PAB 2.59

$2.09 Rp 37.1K

23.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.90 PAB 16.90

$17.39 Rp 309.0K

-2.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.66 PAB 8.66

$3.87 Rp 68.7K

123.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.40 PAB 8.40

$12.55 Rp 222.9K

-33.07%

Apples (1kg)

$9.67 PAB 9.67

$3.62 Rp 64.2K

167.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 PAB 1.53

$1.56 Rp 27.7K

-1.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 Rp 41.8K

Tomato (1kg)

$5.00 PAB 5.00

$2.06 Rp 36.5K

142.72%

Potato (1kg)

$3.22 PAB 3.22

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

69.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 Rp 41.5K

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 18.3K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 PAB 1.61

$0.55 Rp 9,854

192.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 40.0K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 422.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 PAB 2.91

$2.31 Rp 41.1K

25.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 PAB 2.44

$2.80 Rp 49.8K

-12.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,839

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 153.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,554

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,924

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.72 Rp 101.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.5K

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

$24.5K Rp 434.9M

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

$32.1K Rp 570.6M

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

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

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

$40.20 PAB 40.20

$6.46 Rp 114.7K

522.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.38 PAB 35.38

$18.99 Rp 337.4K

86.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 Rp 994.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 330.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 Rp 76.1K

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

$487 Rp 8.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,856 Rp 104.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.56 Rp 809.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.38 Rp 646.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 Rp 1.5M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$763 PAB 763

$1,117 Rp 19.8M

-31.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$908 PAB 908

$701 Rp 12.5M

29.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,197 PAB 1,197

$3,537 Rp 62.8M

-66.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,200 PAB 1,200

$1,762 Rp 31.3M

-31.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 50.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$691 PAB 691

$170 Rp 3.0M

307.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

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

Last update for Bocas del Toro: September 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $763 in Bocas del Toro and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bocas del Toro pays 307% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $51.0 in Bocas del Toro vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $293 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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

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

Bocas del Toro and Ubud, Bali differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($1,500 vs $1,396 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 307% higher in Bocas del Toro, 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: $763 in Bocas del Toro versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $51.0 in Bocas del Toro. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,500 per month in Bocas del Toro versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,500 in Bocas del Toro, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Bocas del Toro. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali 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 Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Bocas del Toro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.