🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $341 in Butwal versus $1,374 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $590 in Butwal versus $2,313 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $839 in Butwal versus $3,252 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 75% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.91NPR 293
$3.32Rp 59.8K
-42.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.29NPR 2,960
$35.33Rp 635.6K
-45.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.50NPR 998
$5.33Rp 95.9K
21.95%
Cappuccino
$1.32NPR 202
$2.75Rp 49.5K
-52.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55NPR 85.0
$1.73Rp 31.1K
-68.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.11NPR 17.47
$0.80Rp 14.4K
-86.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.37NPR 363
$2.95Rp 53.0K
-19.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76NPR 270
$4.44Rp 79.9K
-60.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.68NPR 104
$1.50Rp 27.0K
-54.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.47NPR 72.2
$2.30Rp 41.3K
-79.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.69NPR 106
$1.10Rp 19.8K
-37.27%
Eggs
$1.31NPR 202
$2.16Rp 38.9K
-39.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.53NPR 1,156
$17.09Rp 307.4K
-55.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.30NPR 507
$3.88Rp 69.8K
-14.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.12NPR 939
$11.92Rp 214.4K
-48.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.09NPR 321
$3.57Rp 64.1K
-41.46%
Banana(1kg)
$0.77NPR 118
$1.58Rp 28.5K
-51.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.17NPR 179
$2.36Rp 42.5K
-50.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.59NPR 91.0
$1.97Rp 35.4K
-70.05%
Potato(1kg)
$0.42NPR 63.8
$1.81Rp 32.5K
-76.80%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52NPR 79.3
$2.39Rp 43.0K
-78.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.45NPR 68.6
$1.02Rp 18.3K
-55.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.22NPR 33.73
$0.49Rp 8,841
-55.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53NPR 388
$2.25Rp 40.4K
12.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.57NPR 1,008
$22.30Rp 401.2K
-70.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28NPR 350
$2.37Rp 42.6K
-3.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96NPR 301
$2.90Rp 52.1K
-32.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.15NPR 23.44
$0.25Rp 4,482
-40.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.10NPR 1,244
$8.55Rp 153.9K
-5.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.65NPR 254
$0.44Rp 7,950
275.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.16NPR 179
$0.42Rp 7,598
176.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.59NPR 397
$5.66Rp 101.9K
-54.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11NPR 170
$0.81Rp 14.7K
37.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0KNPR 4.4M
$23.7KRp 427.1M
22.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3KNPR 3.7M
$31.0KRp 557.4M
-21.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$12.79NPR 1,963
$82.3Rp 1.5M
-84.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.45NPR 530
$6.30Rp 113.3K
-45.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.01NPR 1,229
$18.63Rp 335.3K
-57.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$13.12NPR 2,014
$54.7Rp 984.7K
-76.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.02NPR 1,538
$18.45Rp 331.9K
-45.69%
Cinema Ticket
$2.78NPR 427
$4.24Rp 76.3K
-34.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$21.70NPR 3,331
$484Rp 8.7M
-95.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$789NPR 121.1K
$5,590Rp 100.6M
-85.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.25NPR 3,723
$45.77Rp 823.5K
-47.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.96NPR 3,678
$35.69Rp 642.2K
-32.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$32.39NPR 4,971
$78.3Rp 1.4M
-58.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$21.07NPR 3,234
$80.1Rp 1.4M
-73.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$45.54NPR 6,990
$1,147Rp 20.6M
-96.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$27.24NPR 4,180
$678Rp 12.2M
-95.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$129NPR 19.8K
$3,504Rp 63.0M
-96.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$102NPR 15.7K
$1,688Rp 30.4M
-93.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$13.0KNPR 2.0M
$2,788Rp 50.2M
365.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,257Rp 40.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Butwal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$121NPR 18.6K
$165Rp 3.0M
-26.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.72
13.78
-29.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Butwal: September 28, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $45.54 in Butwal and $1,147 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 $35.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $135 vs $286 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 303% 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 36% 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: $45.54 in Butwal versus $1,147 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 112% 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 $35.00 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 $341 in Butwal versus $1,374 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 $341 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 303% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.