Cost of Living Comparison Between Boston, MA and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Boston, MA and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,127 per month in Boston, MA vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,943 per month in Boston, MA vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,759 per month in Boston, MA vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Boston, MA costs about 193% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Boston, MA and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Boston, MA by 209%, Ubud, Bali by 5%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.84 $24.84

$3.45 Rp 61.8K

620.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$126 $126

$32.34 Rp 578.5K

290.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.26 $11.26

$4.84 Rp 86.7K

132.64%

Cappuccino

$5.42 $5.42

$2.75 Rp 49.1K

97.09%

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

$2.92 $2.92

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

111.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

209.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.11 $8.11

$2.99 Rp 53.5K

171.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.80 $8.80

$3.85 Rp 68.9K

128.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

-27.01%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.46 Rp 44.0K

68.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.51 $6.51

$1.17 Rp 20.9K

456.41%

Eggs

$4.84 $4.84

$2.43 Rp 43.5K

99.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.91 $16.91

$14.50 Rp 259.5K

16.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.74 $13.74

$4.35 Rp 77.8K

215.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.35 $20.35

$11.98 Rp 214.3K

69.87%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$3.72 Rp 66.5K

55.65%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.63 Rp 29.1K

30.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.48 $6.48

$2.74 Rp 49.1K

136.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.70 $7.70

$2.24 Rp 40.1K

243.75%

Potato (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$1.92 Rp 34.3K

140.10%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.28 Rp 40.7K

67.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.06 Rp 19.0K

170.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

251.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.52 $13.52

$3.29 Rp 58.8K

310.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.06 $16.06

$23.19 Rp 414.9K

-30.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.78 Rp 49.7K

3.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.49 $5.49

$2.73 Rp 48.9K

101.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.42 $2.42

$0.27 Rp 4,765

796.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.0 $89.0

$8.11 Rp 145.0K

997.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$0.48 Rp 8,636

458.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 $1.77

$0.42 Rp 7,511

321.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.92 $27.92

$6.22 Rp 111.3K

348.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

9.88%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$26.6K Rp 476.1M

10.66%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$32.2K Rp 575.9M

-22.11%

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

$193 $193

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

146.56%

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

$57.2 $57.2

$4.07 Rp 72.8K

1304.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.4 $78.4

$24.33 Rp 435.2K

222.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.8 $80.8

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

-18.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.81 $30.81

$6.34 Rp 113.3K

385.96%

Cinema Ticket

$15.80 $15.80

$3.99 Rp 71.3K

295.99%

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

$2,832 $2,832

$305 Rp 5.5M

828.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.9K $27.9K

$6,642 Rp 118.8M

320.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.3 $67.3

$54.1 Rp 968.6K

24.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.02 $44.02

$37.81 Rp 676.3K

16.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

17.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

91.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,402 $3,402

$992 Rp 17.7M

243.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,542 $2,542

$673 Rp 12.0M

277.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,149 $6,149

$3,375 Rp 60.4M

82.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,037 $4,037

$2,050 Rp 36.7M

96.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.8K $13.8K

$2,805 Rp 50.2M

390.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,581 $6,581

$2,227 Rp 39.8M

195.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,132 $6,132

$167 Rp 3.0M

3572.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

13.28

-51.58%

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

Last update for Boston, MA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,402 in Boston, MA versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 3573% higher in Boston, MA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $126 in Boston, MA versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $507 vs $297 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Boston, MA vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boston, MA costs about 193% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,190 per month in Boston, MA and $2,112 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 71% more in Boston, MA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $126 in Boston, MA and $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,408, than in Boston, MA at $4,127. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Boston, MA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,408 versus $4,127 in Boston, MA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Boston, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.