🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $362 in Butwal versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $626 in Butwal versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $890 in Butwal versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Butwal costs roughly 74% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Butwal is 73% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.80NPR 277
$3.45Rp 62.0K
-47.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.28NPR 2,962
$32.34Rp 580.1K
-40.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.62NPR 1,017
$4.84Rp 86.9K
36.78%
Cappuccino
$1.42NPR 218
$2.75Rp 49.3K
-48.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53NPR 81.4
$1.38Rp 24.8K
-61.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13NPR 19.49
$0.75Rp 13.5K
-82.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53NPR 389
$2.99Rp 53.7K
-15.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97NPR 303
$3.85Rp 69.1K
-48.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.66NPR 101
$1.74Rp 31.1K
-62.07%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52NPR 80.2
$2.46Rp 44.1K
-78.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.82NPR 126
$1.17Rp 21.0K
-29.91%
Eggs
$1.48NPR 228
$2.43Rp 43.6K
-39.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.04NPR 1,388
$14.50Rp 260.2K
-37.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.09NPR 474
$4.35Rp 78.0K
-28.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.00NPR 922
$11.98Rp 214.9K
-49.92%
Apples(1kg)
$2.19NPR 336
$3.72Rp 66.7K
-41.13%
Banana(1kg)
$0.89NPR 136
$1.63Rp 29.2K
-45.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.20NPR 185
$2.74Rp 49.2K
-56.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.64NPR 98.2
$2.24Rp 40.2K
-71.43%
Potato(1kg)
$0.52NPR 79.3
$1.92Rp 34.4K
-72.92%
Onion(1kg)
$0.73NPR 113
$2.28Rp 40.8K
-67.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49NPR 74.8
$1.06Rp 19.1K
-53.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27NPR 41.57
$0.72Rp 12.9K
-62.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.94NPR 451
$3.29Rp 58.9K
-10.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.46NPR 992
$23.19Rp 416.1K
-72.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33NPR 359
$2.78Rp 49.8K
-16.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21NPR 339
$2.73Rp 49.0K
-19.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18NPR 28.21
$0.27Rp 4,778
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.08NPR 1,395
$8.11Rp 145.4K
11.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.80NPR 277
$0.48Rp 8,659
275.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71NPR 109
$0.42Rp 7,532
69.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.87NPR 441
$6.22Rp 111.6K
-53.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28NPR 197
$0.81Rp 14.6K
58.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8KNPR 4.9M
$26.6KRp 477.4M
19.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3KNPR 4.2M
$32.2KRp 577.4M
-15.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$14.46NPR 2,221
$78.4Rp 1.4M
-81.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.78NPR 733
$4.07Rp 73.0K
17.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.85NPR 1,512
$24.33Rp 436.4K
-59.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.67NPR 2,254
$98.6Rp 1.8M
-85.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.74NPR 1,649
$6.34Rp 113.7K
69.40%
Cinema Ticket
$3.07NPR 471
$3.99Rp 71.5K
-23.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$24.37NPR 3,744
$305Rp 5.5M
-92.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$885NPR 135.9K
$6,642Rp 119.2M
-86.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.59NPR 3,777
$54.1Rp 971.2K
-54.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.81NPR 4,118
$37.81Rp 678.2K
-29.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$35.86NPR 5,508
$86.8Rp 1.6M
-58.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$23.79NPR 3,655
$76.4Rp 1.4M
-68.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$51.0NPR 7,831
$992Rp 17.8M
-94.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$30.54NPR 4,691
$673Rp 12.1M
-95.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$146NPR 22.4K
$3,375Rp 60.5M
-95.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$113NPR 17.3K
$2,050Rp 36.8M
-94.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$13.1KNPR 2.0M
$2,805Rp 50.3M
368.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,227Rp 39.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$124NPR 19.0K
$167Rp 3.0M
-25.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
13.28
-9.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Butwal: July 13, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $51.0 in Butwal and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ubud, Bali pays 35% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $19.00 in Butwal vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $143 vs $297 per month, with Butwal 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
Butwal vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Butwal or Ubud, Bali?
Butwal wins on cost – living expenses run 289% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Butwal the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Butwal or in Ubud, Bali?
On paper, salaries run 35% lower in Ubud, Bali. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Butwal compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $51.0 in Butwal versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Butwal or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 108% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Butwal and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Butwal – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Butwal or in Ubud, Bali?
At $362 in Butwal versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Butwal but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Butwal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Butwal or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Butwal delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $362 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Butwal hard to pass up.
How safe is Butwal compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Butwal 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 Butwal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 289% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.