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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,422 in Cardiff versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,441 in Cardiff versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,459 in Cardiff versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Cardiff is roughly 71% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cardiff 81% above, Ubud, Bali 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cardiff
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.31 £15.13
$3.56 Rp 63.9K
470.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.7 £64.5
$32.73 Rp 586.8K
164.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.72 £7.99
$4.95 Rp 88.7K
116.57%
Cappuccino
$4.67 £3.48
$2.71 Rp 48.6K
72.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 £1.84
$1.34 Rp 24.1K
84.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 £1.27
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
144.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.76 £5.03
$2.92 Rp 52.3K
131.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.22 £4.64
$3.96 Rp 70.9K
57.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cardiff
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.94 £1.44
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
7.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.73 £1.29
$2.52 Rp 45.1K
-31.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.99 £2.23
$1.16 Rp 20.8K
157.76%
Eggs
$4.65 £3.46
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
89.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.18 £7.59
$14.71 Rp 263.7K
-30.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.98 £6.69
$4.32 Rp 77.4K
107.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.59 £7.14
$12.14 Rp 217.5K
-21.00%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 £2.13
$3.84 Rp 68.8K
-25.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.60 £1.19
$1.56 Rp 27.9K
2.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.22 £2.40
$2.83 Rp 50.8K
13.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.62 £4.18
$2.33 Rp 41.7K
141.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.71 £1.27
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
-10.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.53 £1.14
$2.20 Rp 39.5K
-30.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 £0.85
$1.01 Rp 18.2K
12.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 £1.24
$0.78 Rp 13.9K
112.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.98 £14.88
$3.32 Rp 59.4K
501.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.21 £8.35
$23.74 Rp 425.5K
-52.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.29 £2.45
$2.79 Rp 50.0K
17.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 £2.72
$2.86 Rp 51.3K
27.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Cardiff
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.16 £2.35
$0.27 Rp 4,819
1070.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.5 £57.7
$8.03 Rp 143.9K
864.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.16 £3.10
$0.46 Rp 8,181
804.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.58 £1.92
$0.45 Rp 8,068
473.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.27 £15.10
$6.10 Rp 109.3K
232.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.92 £1.43
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
143.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K £28.1K
$26.1K Rp 468.8M
44.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$54.5K £40.6K
$32.1K Rp 575.8M
69.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cardiff
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$294 £219
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
267.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.08 £14.95
$4.06 Rp 72.9K
394.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.76 £32.59
$23.52 Rp 421.6K
86.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cardiff
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.71 £28.83
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-60.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.51 £6.34
$6.63 Rp 118.8K
28.36%
Cinema Ticket
$7.67 £5.71
$4.15 Rp 74.3K
84.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cardiff
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,987 £1,480
$304 Rp 5.4M
553.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$33.6K £25.1K
$6,613 Rp 118.5M
408.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cardiff
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.7 £51.9
$55.5 Rp 995.6K
25.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.31 £27.04
$38.31 Rp 686.7K
-5.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.2 £54.5
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
-17.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.3 £49.40
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
-14.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cardiff
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,333 £993
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
32.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,142 £851
$675 Rp 12.1M
69.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 £1,890
$3,442 Rp 61.7M
-26.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,658 £1,235
$2,039 Rp 36.6M
-18.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,553 £4,136
$2,841 Rp 50.9M
95.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,455 £2,573
$2,264 Rp 40.6M
52.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cardiff
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,236 £2,410
$165 Rp 3.0M
1858.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
13.28
-54.82%

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

Last update for Cardiff: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,333 in Cardiff and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cardiff pays 1858% 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: $87.0 in Cardiff vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $315 vs $302 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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
Cardiff vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Cardiff and Ubud, Bali?
Cardiff and Ubud, Bali differ by about 71% in total monthly costs ($2,422 vs $1,419 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Cardiff or Ubud, Bali?
Cardiff pays 1858% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Cardiff and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,333 in Cardiff versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $87.0 in Cardiff. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Cardiff or Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $2,422 per month in Cardiff versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,422 in Cardiff, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Cardiff. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Cardiff and Ubud, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Cardiff or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Cardiff 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.
Where should expats move: Cardiff or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Cardiff. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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