Cost of Living Comparison Between Brainerd, MN and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Brainerd, MN and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,298 in Brainerd, MN versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,068 in Brainerd, MN versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,839 in Brainerd, MN versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Brainerd, MN is roughly 63% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Brainerd, MN 72% above, Ubud, Bali 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brainerd, MN
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.86 $13.86
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
301.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 $64.8
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
100.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.12 $10.12
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
109.09%
Cappuccino
$1.87 $1.87
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
-32.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 $2.25
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
63.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
154.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.97 $5.97
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
99.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.03 $6.03
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
56.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brainerd, MN
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
-40.23%
White Bread (500g)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
35.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.90 $3.90
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
233.33%
Eggs
$2.53 $2.53
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
4.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.60 $9.60
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
-33.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.14 $8.14
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
87.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.47 $12.47
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
4.09%
Apples (1kg)
$4.98 $4.98
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
33.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.20 $1.20
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
-26.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.90 $5.90
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
115.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.13 $5.13
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
129.02%
Potato (1kg)
$3.88 $3.88
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
102.08%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
61.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
85.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
173.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.68 $10.68
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
224.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.16 $12.16
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
-47.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
-38.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57 $4.57
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
67.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Brainerd, MN
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$0.27 Rp 4,786
618.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.11 $40.11
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
394.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.98 $2.98
$0.48 Rp 8,675
520.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.36 $1.36
$0.42 Rp 7,545
223.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.83 $28.83
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
363.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
1.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K $35.1K
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
31.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
-22.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brainerd, MN
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$217 $217
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
177.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.31 $45.31
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
1013.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.9 $60.9
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
150.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brainerd, MN
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.23 $42.23
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-57.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.24 $9.24
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
131.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brainerd, MN
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,188 $1,188
$305 Rp 5.5M
289.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.4K $30.4K
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
357.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brainerd, MN
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.35 $39.35
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
-27.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.64 $41.64
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
10.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.1 $59.1
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
-31.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.2 $64.2
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
-15.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brainerd, MN
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 $1,604
$992 Rp 17.8M
61.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,186 $1,186
$673 Rp 12.1M
76.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,615 $2,615
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
-22.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,522 $1,522
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
-25.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,424 $2,424
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
-13.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,400 $2,400
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
7.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brainerd, MN
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$167 Rp 3.0M
-
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 Brainerd, MN: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Brainerd, MN and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $65.0 in Brainerd, MN vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 vs $297 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
Brainerd, MN vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Brainerd, MN or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 63% lower than in Brainerd, MN. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Brainerd, MN and in Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $3,446 in Brainerd, MN and $2,112 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Brainerd, MN compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Brainerd, MN versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Brainerd, MN and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $65.0 in Brainerd, MN. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Brainerd, MN compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $2,298 per month in Brainerd, MN versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – a 63% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Brainerd, MN or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,298 in Brainerd, MN, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Brainerd, MN. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Brainerd, MN or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,408 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Brainerd, MN compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Brainerd, MN 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 Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Brainerd, MN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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