Cost of Living Comparison Between Boone, NC and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Boone, NC and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,972 in Boone, NC versus $1,379 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,690 in Boone, NC versus $2,363 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,408 in Boone, NC versus $3,347 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Boone, NC is roughly 43% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Boone, NC 44% above, Ubud, Bali 1% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.13 $12.13

$3.31 Rp 58.9K

266.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.4 $69.4

$39.08 Rp 694.5K

77.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.73 $9.73

$5.62 Rp 99.8K

73.13%

Cappuccino

$4.97 $4.97

$2.64 Rp 46.9K

88.26%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$1.58 Rp 28.2K

67.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 $2.73

$0.71 Rp 12.6K

284.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$2.73 Rp 48.5K

122.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.78 $6.78

$4.32 Rp 76.8K

56.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.54 Rp 27.4K

-33.12%

White Bread (500g)

$3.50 $3.50

$2.30 Rp 40.8K

52.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$1.03 Rp 18.3K

333.01%

Eggs

$2.40 $2.40

$2.12 Rp 37.7K

13.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.30 $10.30

$17.30 Rp 307.5K

-40.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.47 $9.47

$4.03 Rp 71.6K

134.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.78 $6.78

$12.42 Rp 220.8K

-45.41%

Apples (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$3.70 Rp 65.7K

87.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

-6.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.27 Rp 40.3K

22.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$1.99 Rp 35.4K

124.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.83 Rp 32.5K

23.50%

Onion (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$2.25 Rp 40.1K

85.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.04 Rp 18.6K

73.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$0.56 Rp 10.0K

285.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.85 $7.85

$2.22 Rp 39.5K

253.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.91 $12.91

$23.22 Rp 412.7K

-44.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.39 Rp 42.5K

-17.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.87 Rp 51.1K

-8.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,416

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.17 Rp 127.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.01 $5.01

$0.46 Rp 8,163

989.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$0.46 Rp 8,235

241.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.98 $29.98

$5.70 Rp 101.2K

425.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.76 Rp 13.6K

2.63%

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

$37.6K $37.6K

$24.6K Rp 436.7M

53.11%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$31.0K Rp 551.5M

-14.17%

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

$82.2 $82.2

$82.2 Rp 1.5M

0.01%

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

$44.25 $44.25

$6.33 Rp 112.5K

599.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.1 $55.1

$18.54 Rp 329.6K

196.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.0 $70.0

$56.1 Rp 996.2K

24.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$50.8 $50.8

$18.41 Rp 327.2K

175.72%

Cinema Ticket

$12.15 $12.15

$4.26 Rp 75.8K

185.21%

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

$1,240 $1,240

$489 Rp 8.7M

153.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.2K $24.2K

$5,793 Rp 103.0M

317.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.2 $50.2

$45.98 Rp 817.3K

9.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.06 $45.06

$35.86 Rp 637.4K

25.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.4 $83.4

$79.5 Rp 1.4M

4.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

$80.9 Rp 1.4M

50.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,139 $1,139

$1,144 Rp 20.3M

-0.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$933 $933

$692 Rp 12.3M

34.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,490 $1,490

$3,532 Rp 62.8M

-57.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,053 $1,053

$1,709 Rp 30.4M

-38.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,752 $3,752

$2,785 Rp 49.5M

34.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,715 $3,715

$2,261 Rp 40.2M

64.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,884 $3,884

$169 Rp 3.0M

2193.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.08

13.78

-55.88%

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

Last update for Boone, NC: August 16, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,139 in Boone, NC and $1,144 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Boone, NC pays 2194% 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: $69.0 in Boone, NC vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $338 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

Boone, NC vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boone, NC and Ubud, Bali differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($1,972 vs $1,379 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 2194% higher in Boone, NC, 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: $1,139 in Boone, NC versus $1,144 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Boone, NC. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,972 per month in Boone, NC versus $1,379 in Ubud, Bali – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,379 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,972 in Boone, NC, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Boone, NC. 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, Boone, NC 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 43% less than in Boone, NC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.