🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,194 in Boksburg versus $1,379 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,905 in Boksburg versus $2,363 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,615 in Boksburg versus $3,347 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Boksburg costs roughly 13% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Boksburg is 13% below, Ubud, Bali is 1% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Boksburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.59R 203
$3.31Rp 58.9K
280.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.95R 756
$39.08Rp 694.5K
20.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.61R 90.3
$5.62Rp 99.8K
-0.18%
Cappuccino
$2.44R 39.25
$2.64Rp 46.9K
-7.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11R 17.82
$1.58Rp 28.2K
-29.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90R 14.56
$0.71Rp 12.6K
26.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.19R 35.30
$2.73Rp 48.5K
-19.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71R 43.59
$4.32Rp 76.8K
-37.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Boksburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31R 21.12
$1.54Rp 27.4K
-14.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.19R 19.18
$2.30Rp 40.8K
-48.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73R 27.91
$1.03Rp 18.3K
67.96%
Eggs
$2.53R 40.77
$2.12Rp 37.7K
19.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49R 137
$17.30Rp 307.5K
-50.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.15R 82.9
$4.03Rp 71.6K
27.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.60R 139
$12.42Rp 220.8K
-30.76%
Apples(1kg)
$1.93R 31.04
$3.70Rp 65.7K
-47.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65R 26.59
$1.62Rp 28.7K
1.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77R 28.49
$2.27Rp 40.3K
-22.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.83R 29.51
$1.99Rp 35.4K
-8.04%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70R 27.44
$1.83Rp 32.5K
-7.10%
Onion(1kg)
$1.72R 27.70
$2.25Rp 40.1K
-23.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22R 19.61
$1.04Rp 18.6K
17.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33R 21.36
$0.56Rp 10.0K
137.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.46R 55.8
$2.22Rp 39.5K
55.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.34R 102
$23.22Rp 412.7K
-72.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59R 25.63
$2.39Rp 42.5K
-33.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94R 31.20
$2.87Rp 51.1K
-32.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Boksburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.25Rp 4,416
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$7.17Rp 127.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.30R 4.77
$0.46Rp 8,163
-34.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82R 13.15
$0.46Rp 8,235
78.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.77R 238
$5.70Rp 101.2K
159.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.47R 23.72
$0.76Rp 13.6K
93.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9KR 578.4K
$24.6KRp 436.7M
46.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0KR 563.7K
$31.0KRp 551.5M
12.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Boksburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$200R 3,223
$82.2Rp 1.5M
143.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.72R 607
$6.33Rp 112.5K
495.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.89R 643
$18.54Rp 329.6K
115.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Boksburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.32R 472
$56.1Rp 996.2K
-47.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.41Rp 327.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.00R 129
$4.26Rp 75.8K
87.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Boksburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$251R 4,048
$489Rp 8.7M
-48.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,564R 89.6K
$5,793Rp 103.0M
-3.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Boksburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.0R 869
$45.98Rp 817.3K
17.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.52R 717
$35.86Rp 637.4K
24.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106R 1,706
$79.5Rp 1.4M
33.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109R 1,760
$80.9Rp 1.4M
35.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Boksburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$329R 5,304
$1,144Rp 20.3M
-71.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$360R 5,802
$692Rp 12.3M
-47.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$692R 11.1K
$3,532Rp 62.8M
-80.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$782R 12.6K
$1,709Rp 30.4M
-54.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,785Rp 49.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,261Rp 40.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Boksburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$879R 14.2K
$169Rp 3.0M
419.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.91
13.78
-20.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Boksburg: August 17, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $329 in Boksburg and $1,144 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Boksburg pays 419% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Boksburg vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $209 vs $293, with Boksburg 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
Boksburg vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Boksburg and in Ubud, Bali?
Boksburg and Ubud, Bali differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($1,194 vs $1,379 including rent). Boksburg is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Boksburg or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 419% higher in Boksburg, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Boksburg and in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $329 in Boksburg versus $1,144 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Boksburg or Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $1,194 per month in Boksburg versus $1,379 in Ubud, Bali – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,194 in Boksburg versus $1,379 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Boksburg but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Boksburg the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Boksburg and Ubud, Bali?
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.
Is Boksburg or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Boksburg 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.
Where should expats move: Boksburg or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Boksburg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.