Cost of Living Comparison Between California, MD and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between California, MD and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,544 per month in California, MD vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,683 per month in California, MD vs $2,582 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,821 per month in California, MD vs $3,757 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

California, MD costs about 81% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both California, MD and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – California, MD by 90%, Ubud, Bali by 5%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.97 $8.97

$3.42 Rp 58.7K

162.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.6 $80.6

$32.96 Rp 566.5K

144.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.08 $10.08

$5.08 Rp 87.3K

98.43%

Cappuccino

$5.70 $5.70

$2.82 Rp 48.5K

102.13%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$1.37 Rp 23.5K

100.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$0.71 Rp 12.2K

230.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.35 $5.35

$2.97 Rp 51.0K

80.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 $7.07

$3.91 Rp 67.2K

80.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.75 Rp 30.0K

-48.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.52 Rp 43.2K

21.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.21 Rp 20.8K

78.51%

Eggs

$5.05 $5.05

$2.33 Rp 40.1K

116.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.19 $13.19

$14.50 Rp 249.2K

-9.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.40 $10.40

$4.36 Rp 74.9K

138.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.18 $11.18

$12.05 Rp 207.0K

-7.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$3.82 Rp 65.6K

15.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

14.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$2.70 Rp 46.5K

64.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.66 $6.66

$2.23 Rp 38.3K

198.65%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 $3.41

$1.90 Rp 32.6K

79.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.18 Rp 37.5K

22.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.03 Rp 17.7K

99.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$0.77 Rp 13.3K

158.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.14 $9.14

$3.18 Rp 54.7K

187.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.88 $13.88

$23.23 Rp 399.2K

-40.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.85 Rp 48.9K

-38.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.89 $4.89

$2.72 Rp 46.7K

79.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.09 $2.09

$0.29 Rp 5,022

620.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$81.5 $81.5

$8.43 Rp 144.8K

866.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.92 $3.92

$0.49 Rp 8,344

700.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 $1.33

$0.45 Rp 7,812

195.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.41 $29.41

$6.28 Rp 107.8K

368.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.85 Rp 14.6K

3.53%

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

$29.0K $29.0K

$26.1K Rp 447.8M

11.33%

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

$23.6K $23.6K

$31.5K Rp 541.8M

-25.23%

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

$208 $208

$79.8 Rp 1.4M

160.34%

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

$42.75 $42.75

$4.09 Rp 70.3K

945.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.2 $70.2

$24.06 Rp 413.6K

191.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.74 $39.74

$96.2 Rp 1.7M

-58.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.95 $10.95

$6.53 Rp 112.2K

67.69%

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$4.13 Rp 71.1K

258.35%

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

$2,200 $2,200

$297 Rp 5.1M

641.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K $24.1K

$6,661 Rp 114.5M

261.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 $54.7

$55.0 Rp 944.5K

-0.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.26 $48.26

$38.75 Rp 666.0K

24.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$89.6 Rp 1.5M

7.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 $136

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

72.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,732 $1,732

$1,018 Rp 17.5M

70.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,300 $1,300

$660 Rp 11.3M

96.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,427 $2,427

$3,435 Rp 59.0M

-29.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,104 $2,104

$2,053 Rp 35.3M

2.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,848 $6,848

$2,981 Rp 51.2M

129.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,224 $6,224

$2,368 Rp 40.7M

162.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,923 $6,923

$172 Rp 3.0M

3923.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.48

13.28

-51.20%

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

Last update for California, MD: April 20, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,732 in California, MD 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.

Salaries run about 3924% higher in California, MD, 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 $81 in California, MD versus $33 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $372 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

California, MD vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – California, MD is pricier by about 81%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,816 per month in California, MD 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.

Groceries cost about 25% more in California, MD, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in California, MD and $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,408, than in California, MD at $2,544. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in California, MD it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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