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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,121 in Carlton versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,085 in Carlton versus $2,557 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,048 in Carlton versus $3,723 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Carlton is roughly 52% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Carlton 59% above, Ubud, Bali 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Carlton
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.39 A$27.51
$3.57 Rp 64.5K
443.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.7 A$91.9
$32.32 Rp 583.4K
100.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.52 A$13.51
$5.01 Rp 90.4K
90.02%
Cappuccino
$2.83 A$4.02
$2.82 Rp 51.0K
0.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 A$3.36
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
75.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 A$2.83
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
172.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.21 A$8.81
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
111.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.19 A$8.79
$3.94 Rp 71.1K
57.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Carlton
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 A$1.57
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
-38.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.70 A$2.41
$2.45 Rp 44.2K
-30.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 A$2.29
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
40.87%
Eggs
$2.99 A$4.24
$2.41 Rp 43.6K
24.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.09 A$12.90
$14.33 Rp 258.7K
-36.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.35 A$13.27
$4.19 Rp 75.6K
123.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.44 A$20.49
$12.06 Rp 217.7K
19.73%
Apples (1kg)
$3.20 A$4.55
$3.64 Rp 65.7K
-12.09%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 A$3.62
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
62.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.90 A$4.12
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
3.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.11 A$5.83
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
83.48%
Potato (1kg)
$2.24 A$3.18
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
13.13%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 A$2.85
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
-11.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.12 A$3.01
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
101.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 A$1.89
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
68.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$29.15 A$41.36
$3.19 Rp 57.6K
813.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.65 A$15.11
$23.49 Rp 424.1K
-54.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.61 A$6.54
$2.90 Rp 52.3K
58.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.22 A$7.41
$2.76 Rp 49.7K
89.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Carlton
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.98 A$4.23
$0.27 Rp 4,813
1003.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$51.1 A$72.5
$8.37 Rp 151.1K
510.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.52 A$5.00
$0.45 Rp 8,167
682.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 A$1.95
$0.46 Rp 8,298
197.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.90 A$35.33
$6.07 Rp 109.6K
310.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 A$1.67
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
37.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3K A$33.1K
$26.6K Rp 480.0M
-12.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$12.9K A$18.3K
$32.5K Rp 587.6M
-60.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Carlton
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.2 A$105
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
-6.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.33 A$30.27
$4.09 Rp 73.9K
421.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.62 A$61.9
$23.85 Rp 430.5K
82.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Carlton
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.22 A$65.6
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
-53.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.02 A$25.56
$6.35 Rp 114.7K
183.78%
Cinema Ticket
$11.93 A$16.93
$4.01 Rp 72.3K
197.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Carlton
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,177 A$1,670
$297 Rp 5.4M
295.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K A$16.3K
$6,602 Rp 119.2M
73.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Carlton
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.2 A$98.1
$53.4 Rp 964.5K
29.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 A$74.4
$38.11 Rp 688.1K
37.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.3 A$110
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
-12.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 A$146
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
34.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Carlton
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,300 A$1,845
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
27.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,147 A$1,628
$680 Rp 12.3M
68.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,943 A$2,756
$3,469 Rp 62.6M
-44.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,599 A$2,269
$2,090 Rp 37.7M
-23.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,052 A$8,587
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
121.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,426 A$7,699
$2,295 Rp 41.4M
136.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Carlton
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,828 A$8,269
$164 Rp 3.0M
3460.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.19
13.28
-53.39%

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

Last update for Carlton: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,300 in Carlton and $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Carlton pays 3461% 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: $65.0 in Carlton vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $317 vs $298 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
Carlton vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Carlton and in Ubud, Bali?
Carlton and Ubud, Bali differ by about 52% in total monthly costs ($2,121 vs $1,392 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Carlton or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 3461% higher in Carlton, 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 Carlton and in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,300 in Carlton versus $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Carlton and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $1,177 in Carlton versus $297 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Carlton. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,121 in Carlton, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Carlton. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Carlton 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 Carlton or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Carlton 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: Carlton or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Carlton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Carlton vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities