Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,353 a month against $1,611 in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,611
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,353
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,611 per month in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur vs $1,353 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur $1,611
  • Ubud, Bali $1,353

A couple spends around $2,409 per month in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur vs $2,297 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur $2,409
  • Ubud, Bali $2,297

A family of three spends $3,207 per month in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur vs $3,241 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur $3,207
  • Ubud, Bali $3,241

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur costs about 19% more than Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur by 19%, Ubud, Bali by 0%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.35 MX$191
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
220.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.09 MX$889
$34.88 Rp 627.8K
37.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.88 MX$182
$5.70 Rp 102.5K
73.33%
Cappuccino
$3.37 MX$62.2
$2.62 Rp 47.1K
28.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 MX$26.54
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
-16.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MX$16.86
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
12.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.39 MX$44.20
$2.65 Rp 47.7K
-9.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MX$81.5
$4.37 Rp 78.6K
0.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 MX$32.84
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
13.38%
White Bread (500g)
$3.03 MX$55.9
$2.19 Rp 39.5K
38.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.38 MX$43.92
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
101.69%
Eggs
$2.35 MX$43.47
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
8.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.47 MX$212
$17.65 Rp 317.7K
-35.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.65 MX$178
$3.78 Rp 68.0K
155.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.41 MX$248
$11.95 Rp 215.1K
12.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.59 MX$47.82
$3.60 Rp 64.8K
-28.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 MX$28.94
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
-1.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 MX$29.98
$2.31 Rp 41.6K
-29.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.71 MX$31.57
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
-10.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.21 MX$22.29
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
-32.02%
Onion (1kg)
$1.84 MX$33.99
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
-21.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.77 MX$51.3
$1.00 Rp 18.0K
177.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 MX$22.31
$0.53 Rp 9,509
128.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.81 MX$88.9
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
110.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.87 MX$201
$22.07 Rp 397.3K
-50.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 MX$28.53
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
-34.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 MX$64.3
$2.98 Rp 53.6K
16.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 MX$16.59
$0.23 Rp 4,112
291.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.4 MX$968
$8.90 Rp 160.2K
488.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.37 MX$80.8
$0.47 Rp 8,466
829.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.97 MX$54.9
$0.43 Rp 7,737
590.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.43 MX$193
$5.47 Rp 98.4K
90.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.14
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
69.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K MX$394.1K
$23.9K Rp 429.8M
-10.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K MX$441.5K
$32.8K Rp 590.1M
-27.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.4 MX$1,560
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
5.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.86 MX$459
$6.56 Rp 118.1K
278.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.45 MX$581
$18.60 Rp 334.8K
69.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.08 MX$833
$54.1 Rp 974.1K
-16.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.06 MX$556
$18.28 Rp 329.0K
64.44%
Cinema Ticket
$4.13 MX$76.3
$4.25 Rp 76.5K
-2.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$226 MX$4,180
$493 Rp 8.9M
-54.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,280 MX$153.0K
$5,597 Rp 100.7M
47.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.3 MX$1,317
$45.58 Rp 820.4K
56.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 MX$970
$34.96 Rp 629.4K
50.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 MX$1,759
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
22.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.0 MX$1,257
$78.5 Rp 1.4M
-13.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,190 MX$22.0K
$1,131 Rp 20.4M
5.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$733 MX$13.5K
$673 Rp 12.1M
8.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,509 MX$46.4K
$3,613 Rp 65.0M
-30.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,179 MX$21.8K
$1,702 Rp 30.6M
-30.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,827 MX$70.7K
$2,717 Rp 48.9M
40.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,210 MX$40.8K
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
-1.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$750 MX$13.9K
$166 Rp 3.0M
350.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.6
13.78
-15.82%

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

Last update for Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur: October 19, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$733
Ubud, Bali
$673 8.2% $60
Groceries & Markets
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$297
Ubud, Bali
$287 3.2% $9.4
Eating Out
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$183
Ubud, Bali
$106 41.9% $77
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$141
Ubud, Bali
$105 25.3% $36
Clothing & Footwear
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$129
Ubud, Bali
$107 17.5% $23
Getting Around
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$75
Ubud, Bali
$12 83.5% $63
Sport & Entertainment
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$53
Ubud, Bali
$63 17.4% $9.3

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,190 in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur versus $1,131 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.

Salaries run about 351% higher in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur versus $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $287 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
20:18 8:18 PM
11:18 11:18 AM
15 h ahead of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
202,694
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur Ubud, Bali 14,950 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur?
Yes – Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur is pricier by about 19%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,416 per month in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur and $2,030 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 489% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $226 per month in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur and $493 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,353, than in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur at $1,611. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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