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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,072 in Carolina versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,830 in Carolina versus $2,327 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,589 in Carolina versus $3,275 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Carolina costs roughly 22% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Carolina is 22% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.18 $12.18

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

265.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.98 $39.98

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

11.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.18 $10.18

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

80.82%

Cappuccino

$2.44 $2.44

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

-13.48%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

82.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

26.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.70 $3.70

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

63.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

29.06%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

125.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.18 $7.18

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

-59.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.98 $8.98

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

121.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.27 $15.27

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

25.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

-18.78%

Banana (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

78.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

30.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

49.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

58.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

24.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

55.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.54 Rp 9,560

277.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,631

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

29.63%

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

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

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

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.95 $10.95

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

-80.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

119.06%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,343 $7,343

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

24.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$688 $688

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

-38.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$589 $589

$693 Rp 12.2M

-14.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,001 $2,001

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

-45.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,256 $1,256

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

-26.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,962 $1,962

$167 Rp 2.9M

1074.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.47

13.78

-60.30%

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

Last update for Carolina: September 5, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $688 in Carolina and $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Carolina pays 1074% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $40.00 in Carolina vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $294 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

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

Carolina wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Carolina the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 1074% higher in Carolina, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $688 in Carolina versus $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,072 per month in Carolina versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Ubud, Bali pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $1,072 in Carolina versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Carolina but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Carolina the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Carolina delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,072 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Carolina hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Carolina 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.

Expats usually find Carolina gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.