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 $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,997 in Bocas del Toro versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,588 in Bocas del Toro versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs are close between Bocas del Toro and Ubud, Bali; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.73 PAB 9.73

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

182.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.6 PAB 50.6

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

56.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 PAB 9.86

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

103.72%

Cappuccino

$4.06 PAB 4.06

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

47.64%

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

$1.80 PAB 1.80

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

30.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 PAB 1.58

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

110.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 PAB 1.98

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

-33.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 PAB 3.99

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

3.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 PAB 3.97

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

61.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

Eggs

$2.64 PAB 2.64

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

8.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.70 PAB 16.70

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

15.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.78 PAB 8.78

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

101.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.41 PAB 8.41

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

-29.80%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 PAB 4.61

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

23.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 PAB 1.53

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

-6.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 PAB 5.11

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

128.13%

Potato (1kg)

$3.38 PAB 3.38

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

76.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 PAB 1.64

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

127.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 PAB 2.82

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

1.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 PAB 2.44

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

-10.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,778

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,659

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,532

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

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

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

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

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

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

$30.35 PAB 30.35

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

645.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.41 PAB 34.41

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

41.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$741 PAB 741

$992 Rp 17.8M

-25.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$897 PAB 897

$673 Rp 12.1M

33.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,191 PAB 1,191

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

-64.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,195 PAB 1,195

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

-41.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$697 PAB 697

$167 Rp 3.0M

317.51%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $741 in Bocas del Toro and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bocas del Toro pays 318% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $51.0 in Bocas del Toro vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $276 vs $297, 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

Average pay runs 318% 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: $741 in Bocas del Toro versus $992 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 $51.0 versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,407 in Bocas del Toro versus $1,408 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.

It comes down to priorities – Bocas del Toro wins on affordability, Ubud, Bali on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.