Cost of Living Comparison Between Cancun and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Cancun and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,365 per month in Cancun vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,243 per month in Cancun vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,121 per month in Cancun vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Cancun is about 4% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Cancun and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Cancun by 2%, Ubud, Bali by 6%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.37 MX$231

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

275.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.7 MX$928

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

63.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 MX$175

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

104.65%

Cappuccino

$3.44 MX$59.5

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

26.94%

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

$1.58 MX$27.37

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

17.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 MX$15.58

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 MX$52.6

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

4.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 MX$77.4

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

13.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.78

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

-20.99%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 MX$43.94

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

0.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.93 MX$33.40

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

66.38%

Eggs

$2.63 MX$45.41

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

6.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.32 MX$196

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

-23.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.69 MX$150

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

101.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.72 MX$185

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

-11.70%

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 MX$56.1

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

-15.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.13

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

0.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.14 MX$54.3

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

10.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.20 MX$38.04

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

-5.58%

Potato (1kg)

$2.14 MX$37.01

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

12.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 MX$39.97

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

5.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.61

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

6.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 MX$22.14

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

64.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MX$72.6

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

26.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.25 MX$177

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

-56.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$28.99

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

-39.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 MX$45.24

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

-8.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.42

$0.27 Rp 4,800

122.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.6 MX$1,048

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

654.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.21 MX$72.8

$0.46 Rp 8,150

815.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.48 MX$42.83

$0.45 Rp 8,037

451.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.97 MX$172

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

63.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 MX$23.01

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

68.35%

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

$30.5K MX$528.1K

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

16.75%

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

$24.1K MX$416.6K

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

-25.01%

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

$116 MX$2,000

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

44.61%

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

$23.15 MX$400

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

470.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.11 MX$625

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

53.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.40 MX$439

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-74.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.07 MX$416

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

263.05%

Cinema Ticket

$6.06 MX$105

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

46.02%

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

$197 MX$3,413

$304 Rp 5.4M

-35.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,199 MX$89.9K

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

-21.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 MX$932

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

-2.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.89 MX$690

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

4.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.7 MX$1,430

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

-6.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 MX$1,930

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

43.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 MX$10.7K

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

-38.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$459 MX$7,931

$675 Rp 12.1M

-32.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,267 MX$21.9K

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

-63.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 MX$17.5K

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

-50.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,189 MX$37.9K

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

-22.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,287 MX$39.6K

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

1.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$803 MX$13.9K

$165 Rp 3.0M

386.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

13.28

-14.01%

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

Last update for Cancun: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Cancun versus $1,006 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 386% higher in Cancun, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Cancun versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $282 in Cancun vs $302 in Ubud, Bali – so Cancun wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,365 in Cancun, $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 4% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,048 per month in Cancun and $2,129 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cancun, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Cancun and $304 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Cancun, where all-in costs run around $1,365, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Cancun it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Cancun has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,365 in Cancun to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Cancun. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.