🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $733 in Bortala versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,173 in Bortala versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,613 in Bortala versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Bortala costs roughly 46% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bortala is 46% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bortala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.06¥20.48
$3.44Rp 60.8K
-11.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.45¥150
$36.31Rp 642.1K
-38.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.13¥34.37
$5.71Rp 100.9K
-10.16%
Cappuccino
$2.68¥17.95
$2.67Rp 47.2K
0.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50¥3.33
$1.75Rp 30.9K
-71.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30¥2.01
$0.87Rp 15.4K
-65.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.00¥6.72
$2.95Rp 52.2K
-66.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04¥13.64
$4.52Rp 79.9K
-54.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bortala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88¥12.60
$1.62Rp 28.6K
16.05%
White Bread(500g)
$1.67¥11.17
$2.33Rp 41.2K
-28.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.92¥6.18
$1.11Rp 19.6K
-17.12%
Eggs
$1.58¥10.60
$2.20Rp 38.9K
-28.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.47¥90.3
$17.69Rp 312.8K
-23.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.49¥23.39
$4.10Rp 72.4K
-14.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.15¥74.7
$12.18Rp 215.3K
-8.46%
Apples(1kg)
$1.82¥12.21
$3.71Rp 65.5K
-50.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26¥8.44
$1.59Rp 28.1K
-20.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52¥10.21
$2.28Rp 40.4K
-33.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.30¥8.73
$1.95Rp 34.5K
-33.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71¥4.78
$1.91Rp 33.7K
-62.83%
Onion(1kg)
$0.96¥6.45
$2.33Rp 41.2K
-58.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.63¥4.23
$1.01Rp 17.8K
-37.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55¥3.69
$0.55Rp 9,759
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.62¥24.28
$2.23Rp 39.5K
62.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.79¥65.6
$23.07Rp 408.0K
-57.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.79¥5.29
$2.42Rp 42.8K
-67.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62¥10.82
$3.00Rp 53.0K
-46.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Bortala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32¥2.12
$0.27Rp 4,807
18.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.32¥123
$8.98Rp 158.9K
104.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.43¥9.57
$0.48Rp 8,554
197.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35¥2.37
$0.43Rp 7,668
-18.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.44¥43.12
$5.64Rp 99.8K
14.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23¥8.22
$0.80Rp 14.2K
53.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K¥132.0K
$24.9KRp 441.1M
-21.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.5K¥124.1K
$31.7KRp 560.7M
-41.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bortala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$57.2¥383
$81.5Rp 1.4M
-29.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.38¥56.2
$6.49Rp 114.8K
29.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.27¥75.5
$18.77Rp 331.9K
-39.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bortala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.54¥272
$56.9Rp 1.0M
-28.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.57¥97.7
$18.73Rp 331.2K
-22.21%
Cinema Ticket
$6.40¥42.90
$4.54Rp 80.2K
40.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bortala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$452¥3,026
$481Rp 8.5M
-6.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.7K¥125.0K
$5,711Rp 101.0M
226.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bortala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.90¥281
$45.52Rp 804.9K
-7.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.12¥195
$35.88Rp 634.5K
-18.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.1¥489
$80.4Rp 1.4M
-9.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.9¥542
$78.7Rp 1.4M
2.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bortala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$264¥1,770
$1,115Rp 19.7M
-76.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$171¥1,149
$698Rp 12.3M
-75.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$575¥3,856
$3,637Rp 64.3M
-84.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$328¥2,197
$1,737Rp 30.7M
-81.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,413¥22.9K
$2,784Rp 49.2M
22.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,747¥11.7K
$2,290Rp 40.5M
-23.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bortala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$634¥4,246
$168Rp 3.0M
277.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.38
13.78
-75.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bortala: September 14, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $264 in Bortala and $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bortala pays 277% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $22.00 in Bortala vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $295 per month, with Bortala 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
Bortala vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bortala or Ubud, Bali?
Bortala wins on cost – living expenses run 86% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bortala the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bortala or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 277% higher in Bortala, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bortala compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $264 in Bortala versus $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Bortala compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $733 per month in Bortala versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali – a 86% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Bortala compared to Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Bortala runs roughly 104% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bortala or in Ubud, Bali?
At $733 in Bortala versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bortala but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Bortala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bortala or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bortala delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $733 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bortala hard to pass up.
How safe is Bortala compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Bortala 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bortala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.