🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,065 in Boksburg versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,702 in Boksburg versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,338 in Boksburg versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Boksburg costs roughly 24% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Boksburg is 21% below, Ubud, Bali is 4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Boksburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.27R 182
$3.57Rp 64.0K
215.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.78R 692
$32.50Rp 582.3K
31.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.66R 75.3
$4.86Rp 87.1K
-4.12%
Cappuccino
$2.09R 33.74
$2.75Rp 49.2K
-24.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04R 16.76
$1.32Rp 23.7K
-21.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78R 12.56
$0.70Rp 12.6K
11.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21R 35.66
$2.91Rp 52.2K
-24.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82R 45.59
$3.79Rp 68.0K
-25.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Boksburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20R 19.46
$1.71Rp 30.6K
-29.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01R 16.36
$2.47Rp 44.3K
-59.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58R 25.56
$1.20Rp 21.5K
31.67%
Eggs
$2.44R 39.51
$2.44Rp 43.8K
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.64R 124
$14.38Rp 257.7K
-46.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.69R 75.8
$4.31Rp 77.1K
8.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.64R 107
$12.21Rp 218.7K
-45.62%
Apples(1kg)
$1.63R 26.28
$3.68Rp 66.0K
-55.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47R 23.81
$1.55Rp 27.8K
-5.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.60R 25.95
$2.79Rp 49.9K
-42.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.65R 26.60
$2.33Rp 41.8K
-29.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.50R 24.27
$1.97Rp 35.3K
-23.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44R 23.23
$2.31Rp 41.4K
-37.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09R 17.58
$1.06Rp 19.1K
2.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16R 18.79
$0.73Rp 13.1K
58.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.03R 48.94
$3.28Rp 58.8K
-7.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.95R 96.1
$22.79Rp 408.4K
-73.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30R 21.07
$2.81Rp 50.3K
-53.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85R 29.98
$2.78Rp 49.9K
-33.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Boksburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.60R 25.93
$0.29Rp 5,217
451.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.06Rp 144.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.13R 18.31
$0.45Rp 8,047
151.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.88R 14.16
$0.45Rp 8,094
95.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.99R 48.32
$6.24Rp 111.7K
-52.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25R 20.19
$0.85Rp 15.2K
47.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2KR 310.4K
$26.0KRp 465.4M
-26.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KR 379.9K
$31.7KRp 567.2M
-25.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Boksburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124R 2,005
$80.8Rp 1.4M
53.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.04R 647
$4.06Rp 72.7K
886.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.44R 686
$24.42Rp 437.6K
73.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Boksburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.45R 444
$97.7Rp 1.7M
-71.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.67R 108
$6.45Rp 115.5K
3.41%
Cinema Ticket
$7.61R 123
$4.04Rp 72.4K
88.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Boksburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197R 3,190
$304Rp 5.4M
-35.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,936R 79.8K
$6,621Rp 118.6M
-25.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Boksburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.2R 827
$54.2Rp 971.7K
-5.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.29R 522
$38.78Rp 694.7K
-16.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.9R 1,437
$86.1Rp 1.5M
3.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.0R 1,309
$76.7Rp 1.4M
5.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Boksburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$294R 4,758
$986Rp 17.7M
-70.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$325R 5,251
$658Rp 11.8M
-50.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$614R 9,921
$3,369Rp 60.4M
-81.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730R 11.8K
$2,066Rp 37.0M
-64.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$985R 15.9K
$2,741Rp 49.1M
-64.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$654R 10.6K
$2,228Rp 39.9M
-70.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Boksburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$868R 14.0K
$163Rp 2.9M
431.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.51
13.28
-13.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Boksburg: June 7, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $294 in Boksburg and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Boksburg pays 431% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Boksburg vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $184 vs $297, 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 Ubud, Bali?
Boksburg and Ubud, Bali differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($1,065 vs $1,404 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?
Boksburg pays 431% more on average, 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 Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $294 in Boksburg versus $986 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 61% 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 $1,065 per month in Boksburg versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali – a 32% 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 $1,065 in Boksburg versus $1,404 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 32% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.