🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $361 in Butwal versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $631 in Butwal versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $902 in Butwal versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Butwal costs roughly 75% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Butwal is 73% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.80NPR 273
$3.56Rp 63.7K
-49.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.05NPR 2,899
$32.73Rp 584.5K
-41.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.48NPR 986
$4.95Rp 88.4K
30.91%
Cappuccino
$1.42NPR 216
$2.71Rp 48.4K
-47.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53NPR 81.3
$1.34Rp 24.0K
-60.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.12NPR 17.56
$0.70Rp 12.5K
-82.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53NPR 385
$2.92Rp 52.1K
-13.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96NPR 298
$3.96Rp 70.7K
-50.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.66NPR 100.0
$1.81Rp 32.3K
-63.54%
White Bread(500g)
$0.49NPR 74.8
$2.52Rp 45.0K
-80.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.79NPR 120
$1.16Rp 20.7K
-31.90%
Eggs
$1.48NPR 226
$2.46Rp 43.9K
-39.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.99NPR 1,368
$14.71Rp 262.7K
-38.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.20NPR 487
$4.32Rp 77.1K
-25.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.16NPR 937
$12.14Rp 216.7K
-49.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27NPR 345
$3.84Rp 68.6K
-40.89%
Banana(1kg)
$0.88NPR 134
$1.56Rp 27.8K
-43.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.25NPR 190
$2.83Rp 50.6K
-55.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.69NPR 105
$2.33Rp 41.5K
-70.39%
Potato(1kg)
$0.52NPR 79.1
$1.91Rp 34.2K
-72.77%
Onion(1kg)
$0.73NPR 112
$2.20Rp 39.3K
-66.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49NPR 75.1
$1.01Rp 18.1K
-51.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27NPR 41.37
$0.78Rp 13.8K
-65.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.86NPR 435
$3.32Rp 59.2K
-13.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.63NPR 1,010
$23.74Rp 423.9K
-72.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.32NPR 353
$2.79Rp 49.8K
-16.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21NPR 337
$2.86Rp 51.1K
-22.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19NPR 29.36
$0.27Rp 4,800
-29.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.90NPR 1,354
$8.03Rp 143.4K
10.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.84NPR 280
$0.46Rp 8,150
300.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70NPR 107
$0.45Rp 8,037
55.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.94NPR 448
$6.10Rp 108.9K
-51.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23NPR 188
$0.79Rp 14.2K
55.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3KNPR 4.9M
$26.1KRp 467.0M
23.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8KNPR 4.2M
$32.1KRp 573.6M
-13.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$14.41NPR 2,194
$79.9Rp 1.4M
-81.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.99NPR 759
$4.06Rp 72.6K
22.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.43NPR 1,436
$23.52Rp 420.0K
-59.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.51NPR 2,209
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-85.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.82NPR 1,647
$6.63Rp 118.4K
63.20%
Cinema Ticket
$3.15NPR 480
$4.15Rp 74.1K
-24.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$24.23NPR 3,688
$304Rp 5.4M
-92.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$857NPR 130.5K
$6,613Rp 118.1M
-87.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.18NPR 3,833
$55.5Rp 991.8K
-54.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.89NPR 4,092
$38.31Rp 684.1K
-29.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$36.37NPR 5,536
$88.6Rp 1.6M
-58.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$23.88NPR 3,635
$77.9Rp 1.4M
-69.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$51.6NPR 7,860
$1,006Rp 18.0M
-94.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$31.36NPR 4,774
$675Rp 12.1M
-95.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$144NPR 21.9K
$3,442Rp 61.5M
-95.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$114NPR 17.4K
$2,039Rp 36.4M
-94.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$13.4KNPR 2.0M
$2,841Rp 50.7M
369.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,264Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$121NPR 18.4K
$165Rp 3.0M
-26.69%
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $51.6 in Butwal and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ubud, Bali pays 36% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $145 vs $302 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 293% 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 Ubud, Bali?
On paper, Ubud, Bali earns 36% less. 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $51.6 in Butwal versus $1,006 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 Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 109% 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Butwal – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $33.00 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 Ubud, Bali?
At $361 in Butwal versus $1,419 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 $361 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 293% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.