Cost of Living Comparison Between Brookings, SD and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Brookings, SD and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,573 per month in Brookings, SD vs $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,502 per month in Brookings, SD vs $2,348 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,431 per month in Brookings, SD vs $3,327 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Brookings, SD costs about 88% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Brookings, SD and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Brookings, SD by 88%, Ubud, Bali by 0%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brookings, SD
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.36 $17.36
$3.44 Rp 61.0K
404.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.82 $39.82
$36.31 Rp 644.0K
9.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.44 $11.44
$5.71 Rp 101.2K
100.35%
Cappuccino
$4.58 $4.58
$2.67 Rp 47.4K
71.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
41.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.87 Rp 15.5K
135.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.94 $5.94
$2.95 Rp 52.4K
101.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.13 $7.13
$4.52 Rp 80.1K
57.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brookings, SD
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
-47.53%
White Bread (500g)
$3.49 $3.49
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
49.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.78 $6.78
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
510.81%
Eggs
$3.99 $3.99
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
81.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.23 $10.23
$17.69 Rp 313.8K
-42.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.63 $13.63
$4.10 Rp 72.7K
232.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.79 $12.79
$12.18 Rp 216.0K
5.01%
Apples (1kg)
$5.92 $5.92
$3.71 Rp 65.7K
59.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 $1.81
$1.59 Rp 28.2K
13.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.54 $6.54
$2.28 Rp 40.5K
186.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.13 $5.13
$1.95 Rp 34.6K
163.08%
Potato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$1.91 Rp 33.8K
136.13%
Onion (1kg)
$4.12 $4.12
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
76.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 $2.24
$1.01 Rp 17.9K
121.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$0.55 Rp 9,788
267.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.18 $13.18
$2.23 Rp 39.6K
491.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.08 $12.08
$23.07 Rp 409.2K
-47.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.42 Rp 42.9K
18.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.82 $5.82
$3.00 Rp 53.1K
94.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Brookings, SD
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.27 Rp 4,821
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.98 Rp 159.3K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.15 $5.15
$0.48 Rp 8,580
972.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.73 $1.73
$0.43 Rp 7,691
302.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.13 $24.13
$5.64 Rp 100.1K
327.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K $36.4K
$24.9K Rp 442.4M
46.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$31.7K Rp 562.4M
-18.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brookings, SD
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$157 $157
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
92.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.0 $54.0
$6.49 Rp 115.2K
732.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.8 $68.8
$18.77 Rp 332.9K
266.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brookings, SD
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.73 Rp 332.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.07 $12.07
$4.54 Rp 80.5K
165.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brookings, SD
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,369 $1,369
$481 Rp 8.5M
184.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$35.7K $35.7K
$5,711 Rp 101.3M
525.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brookings, SD
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.61 $42.61
$45.52 Rp 807.3K
-6.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.42 $35.42
$35.88 Rp 636.4K
-1.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.3 $89.3
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
11.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 $105
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
32.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brookings, SD
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,702 $1,702
$1,115 Rp 19.8M
52.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,430 $1,430
$698 Rp 12.4M
104.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,044 $2,044
$3,637 Rp 64.5M
-43.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 $2,094
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
20.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,716 $2,716
$2,784 Rp 49.4M
-2.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,106 $3,106
$2,290 Rp 40.6M
35.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brookings, SD
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$168 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.5
13.78
-60.09%

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

Last update for Brookings, SD: September 14, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,702 in Brookings, SD versus $1,115 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Brookings, SD versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $421 vs $295 – 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
Brookings, SD vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Brookings, SD or Ubud, Bali?
Brookings, SD costs about 88% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Brookings, SD and in Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,859 per month in Brookings, SD and $2,052 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Brookings, SD or Ubud, Bali?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Brookings, SD and in Ubud, Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Brookings, SD and $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Brookings, SD or in Ubud, Bali?
Groceries cost about 43% more in Brookings, SD, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Brookings, SD or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,368, than in Brookings, SD at $2,573. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brookings, SD it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Brookings, SD or Ubud, Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,368 versus $2,573 in Brookings, SD. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Brookings, SD compared to Ubud, Bali?
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.
Should I move to Brookings, SD or to Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Brookings, SD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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