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 $1,487 per month in Cancun vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,433 per month in Cancun vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,378 per month in Cancun vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Cancun costs about 7% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Cancun and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Cancun by 8%, Ubud, Bali by 2%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.92 MX$203

$3.37 Rp 59.8K

253.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.9 MX$1,001

$38.59 Rp 683.8K

52.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 MX$205

$5.52 Rp 97.8K

118.12%

Cappuccino

$4.17 MX$70.8

$2.64 Rp 46.9K

57.95%

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

$1.39 MX$23.68

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

-16.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$14.95

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.30 MX$56.2

$2.63 Rp 46.7K

25.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.49 MX$76.3

$4.28 Rp 75.9K

4.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 MX$30.00

$1.55 Rp 27.4K

14.19%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 MX$46.14

$2.22 Rp 39.4K

22.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.31

$1.13 Rp 19.9K

57.52%

Eggs

$2.88 MX$48.88

$2.09 Rp 37.0K

37.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.41 MX$177

$17.39 Rp 308.2K

-40.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.12 MX$155

$3.87 Rp 68.5K

135.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.27 MX$243

$12.55 Rp 222.4K

13.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 MX$49.59

$3.62 Rp 64.1K

-19.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 MX$28.85

$1.56 Rp 27.6K

8.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.24 MX$55.1

$2.35 Rp 41.7K

37.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 MX$40.28

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

15.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 MX$34.56

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

6.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 MX$33.35

$2.34 Rp 41.4K

-16.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 MX$20.30

$1.03 Rp 18.3K

15.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 MX$21.81

$0.55 Rp 9,830

132.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.80 MX$81.6

$2.25 Rp 39.9K

113.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.51 MX$179

$23.81 Rp 421.9K

-55.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 MX$27.76

$2.31 Rp 41.0K

-29.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 MX$48.43

$2.80 Rp 49.6K

1.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MX$11.48

$0.27 Rp 4,827

151.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.36 MX$516

$8.66 Rp 153.5K

250.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.57 MX$77.7

$0.48 Rp 8,533

852.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.14 MX$53.4

$0.45 Rp 7,904

597.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.75 MX$251

$5.72 Rp 101.4K

157.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 MX$26.72

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

106.58%

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

$22.5K MX$382.9K

$24.5K Rp 433.9M

-7.96%

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

$25.9K MX$440.4K

$32.1K Rp 569.3M

-19.32%

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

$177 MX$3,002

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

111.41%

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

$25.68 MX$436

$6.46 Rp 114.4K

297.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.90 MX$695

$18.99 Rp 336.6K

115.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.82 MX$592

$56.0 Rp 992.0K

-37.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.59 MX$248

$18.62 Rp 329.9K

-21.64%

Cinema Ticket

$7.76 MX$132

$4.28 Rp 75.9K

81.31%

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

$222 MX$3,772

$487 Rp 8.6M

-54.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,926 MX$100.7K

$5,856 Rp 103.8M

1.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 MX$1,007

$45.56 Rp 807.4K

30.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.7 MX$998

$36.38 Rp 644.7K

61.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.3 MX$1,382

$82.0 Rp 1.5M

-0.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.8 MX$1,695

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

24.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$699 MX$11.9K

$1,117 Rp 19.8M

-37.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 MX$8,188

$701 Rp 12.4M

-31.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,495 MX$25.4K

$3,537 Rp 62.7M

-57.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,124 MX$19.1K

$1,762 Rp 31.2M

-36.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,356 MX$23.0K

$2,826 Rp 50.1M

-52.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,103 MX$35.7K

$2,292 Rp 40.6M

-8.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$847 MX$14.4K

$170 Rp 3.0M

398.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

13.78

-16.91%

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

Last update for Cancun: August 29, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $699 in Cancun versus $1,117 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 399% higher in Cancun, 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 $59.0 in Cancun versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $293 – 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,487 in Cancun, $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 7% apart. Cancun costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,231 per month in Cancun and $2,095 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.

Kindergarten costs $222 per month in Cancun and $487 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% more in Cancun, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,396, than in Cancun at $1,487. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cancun 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 $1,396 in Ubud, Bali to $1,487 in Cancun. 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 Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cancun makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.