Cost of Living Comparison Between Burlington, NC and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Burlington, NC and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,584 per month in Burlington, NC vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,749 per month in Burlington, NC vs $2,582 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,914 per month in Burlington, NC vs $3,757 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Burlington, NC costs about 84% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Burlington, NC and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Burlington, NC by 93%, Ubud, Bali by 5%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.20 $19.20

$3.42 Rp 58.7K

461.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.1 $74.1

$32.96 Rp 566.5K

124.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 $10.92

$5.08 Rp 87.3K

114.96%

Cappuccino

$5.03 $5.03

$2.82 Rp 48.5K

78.37%

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

$2.53 $2.53

$1.37 Rp 23.5K

84.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.71 Rp 12.2K

176.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.03 $6.03

$2.97 Rp 51.0K

103.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.98 $6.98

$3.91 Rp 67.2K

78.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.75 Rp 30.0K

-43.43%

White Bread (500g)

$3.61 $3.61

$2.52 Rp 43.2K

43.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$1.21 Rp 20.8K

261.16%

Eggs

$4.03 $4.03

$2.33 Rp 40.1K

72.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.42 $12.42

$14.50 Rp 249.2K

-14.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.46 $11.46

$4.36 Rp 74.9K

162.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.64 $15.64

$12.05 Rp 207.0K

29.79%

Apples (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$3.82 Rp 65.6K

28.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

1.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$2.70 Rp 46.5K

54.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$2.23 Rp 38.3K

114.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.90 Rp 32.6K

51.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.18 Rp 37.5K

28.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.03 Rp 17.7K

98.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$0.77 Rp 13.3K

171.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.74 $9.74

$3.18 Rp 54.7K

206.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.89 $13.89

$23.23 Rp 399.2K

-40.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.85 Rp 48.9K

-36.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$2.72 Rp 46.7K

23.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.29 Rp 5,022

579.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.43 Rp 144.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 $3.58

$0.49 Rp 8,344

630.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$0.45 Rp 7,812

268.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.74 $28.74

$6.28 Rp 107.8K

357.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.85 Rp 14.6K

1.18%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$26.1K Rp 447.8M

12.70%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$31.5K Rp 541.8M

-18.93%

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

$189 $189

$79.8 Rp 1.4M

137.11%

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

$52.7 $52.7

$4.09 Rp 70.3K

1187.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$24.06 Rp 413.6K

179.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.43 $43.43

$96.2 Rp 1.7M

-54.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.53 Rp 112.2K

Cinema Ticket

$13.51 $13.51

$4.13 Rp 71.1K

227.12%

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

$1,294 $1,294

$297 Rp 5.1M

336.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$6,661 Rp 114.5M

253.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 $50.3

$55.0 Rp 944.5K

-8.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.25 $39.25

$38.75 Rp 666.0K

1.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.2 $88.2

$89.6 Rp 1.5M

-1.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

44.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,618 $1,618

$1,018 Rp 17.5M

58.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,340 $1,340

$660 Rp 11.3M

103.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,619 $2,619

$3,435 Rp 59.0M

-23.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,263 $2,263

$2,053 Rp 35.3M

10.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 $2,791

$2,981 Rp 51.2M

-6.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,368 Rp 40.7M

5.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

13.28

-50.98%

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

Last update for Burlington, NC: April 19, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,618 in Burlington, NC versus $1,018 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 $74 in Burlington, NC versus $33 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $387 vs $299 – 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

Burlington, NC vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,584 in Burlington, NC, $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 84% apart. Burlington, NC costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,876 per month in Burlington, NC 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,584 in Burlington, NC and $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,294 per month in Burlington, NC and $297 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,408, than in Burlington, NC at $2,584. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Burlington, NC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,408 in Ubud, Bali to $2,584 in Burlington, NC. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Burlington, NC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.