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 $4,208 per month in Boston, MA vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,971 per month in Boston, MA vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,734 per month in Boston, MA vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Boston, MA costs about 196% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Boston, MA and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Boston, MA by 214%, Ubud, Bali by 6%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.35 $25.35

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

612.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$129 $129

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

295.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.14 $11.14

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

125.05%

Cappuccino

$5.51 $5.51

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

103.32%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

129.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

251.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.06 $8.06

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

176.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.96 $8.96

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

126.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

-27.62%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

65.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.41 $6.41

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

452.59%

Eggs

$4.83 $4.83

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

96.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.07 $17.07

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

16.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.56 $13.56

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

213.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.22 $20.22

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

66.56%

Apples (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

48.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

40.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

121.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.85 $7.85

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

236.91%

Potato (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

141.36%

Onion (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

73.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.81 $2.81

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

178.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

234.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.70 $13.70

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

312.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.58 $16.58

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

-30.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

2.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.65 $5.65

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

97.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 $2.38

$0.27 Rp 4,819

781.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.4 $91.4

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

1037.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.64 $2.64

$0.46 Rp 8,181

473.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 $1.73

$0.45 Rp 8,068

284.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.29 $28.29

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

363.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

17.72%

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

$29.9K $29.9K

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

14.31%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

-22.15%

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

$194 $194

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

142.52%

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

$58.9 $58.9

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

1351.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.3 $79.3

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

237.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.5 $80.5

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-18.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.51 $30.51

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

360.18%

Cinema Ticket

$15.58 $15.58

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

275.42%

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

$2,830 $2,830

$304 Rp 5.4M

830.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.0K $27.0K

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

308.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.9 $66.9

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

20.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.18 $44.18

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

15.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

13.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

90.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,479 $3,479

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

245.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,638 $2,638

$675 Rp 12.1M

290.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,212 $6,212

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

80.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,944 $3,944

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

93.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.5K $13.5K

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

373.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,392 $6,392

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

182.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,939 $5,939

$165 Rp 3.0M

3494.33%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,479 in Boston, MA versus $1,006 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 3494% 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 $129 in Boston, MA versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $508 vs $302 – 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 196% 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 $6,312 per month in Boston, MA and $2,129 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 68% 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 $129 in Boston, MA and $33.00 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 $1,419, than in Boston, MA at $4,208. 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 $1,419 versus $4,208 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.