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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Cartago vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,965 per month in Cartago vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,699 per month in Cartago vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Cartago is about 12% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Cartago sits 10% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.66 COP 24.1K

$3.37 Rp 59.7K

127.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.34 COP 120.5K

$38.59 Rp 682.4K

-0.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.62 COP 27.1K

$5.52 Rp 97.6K

56.16%

Cappuccino

$1.61 COP 5,068

$2.64 Rp 46.8K

-39.02%

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

$1.30 COP 4,095

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

-22.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 COP 2,724

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

12.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,820

$2.63 Rp 46.6K

18.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 COP 12.1K

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

-9.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 COP 5,121

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

5.16%

White Bread (500g)

$2.00 COP 6,272

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

-9.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 COP 4,689

$1.13 Rp 19.9K

31.86%

Eggs

$2.89 COP 9,089

$2.09 Rp 36.9K

38.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.44 COP 20.3K

$17.39 Rp 307.6K

-62.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.93 COP 21.8K

$3.87 Rp 68.4K

79.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.09 COP 31.7K

$12.55 Rp 221.9K

-19.60%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 COP 11.1K

$3.62 Rp 63.9K

-2.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,248

$1.56 Rp 27.6K

-13.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 COP 5,703

$2.35 Rp 41.6K

-22.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 COP 5,231

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

-19.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.44 COP 4,514

$1.90 Rp 33.6K

-24.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 COP 4,968

$2.34 Rp 41.3K

-32.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 COP 3,586

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

10.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 COP 3,186

$0.55 Rp 9,809

83.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.70 COP 11.6K

$2.25 Rp 39.8K

64.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.96 COP 40.7K

$23.81 Rp 421.0K

-45.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,742

$2.31 Rp 40.9K

-34.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 COP 7,999

$2.80 Rp 49.5K

-9.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.19 COP 3,731

$0.27 Rp 4,816

340.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 153.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 COP 2,688

$0.48 Rp 8,515

79.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.87 COP 5,876

$0.45 Rp 7,887

315.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.03 COP 25.2K

$5.72 Rp 101.1K

40.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 COP 4,191

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

75.00%

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

$23.6K COP 74.1M

$24.5K Rp 433.0M

-3.71%

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

$35.9K COP 112.8M

$32.1K Rp 568.0M

11.71%

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

$113 COP 356.4K

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

35.72%

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

$13.29 COP 41.8K

$6.46 Rp 114.2K

105.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.50 COP 99.0K

$18.99 Rp 335.9K

65.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.54 COP 111.7K

$56.0 Rp 989.8K

-36.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 329.2K

Cinema Ticket

$8.49 COP 26.7K

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

98.36%

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

$658 COP 2.1M

$487 Rp 8.6M

35.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,616 COP 20.8M

$5,856 Rp 103.6M

12.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.7 COP 247.3K

$45.56 Rp 805.6K

72.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 COP 173.3K

$36.38 Rp 643.3K

51.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 COP 395.7K

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

53.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 343.5K

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

35.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$646 COP 2.0M

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

-42.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$502 COP 1.6M

$701 Rp 12.4M

-28.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,123 COP 3.5M

$3,537 Rp 62.5M

-68.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,010 COP 3.2M

$1,762 Rp 31.2M

-42.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,687 COP 5.3M

$2,826 Rp 50.0M

-40.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,900 COP 6.0M

$2,292 Rp 40.5M

-17.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.58

13.78

-15.97%

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

Last update for Cartago: September 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $646 in Cartago 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Cartago versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $293 – making Cartago 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

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

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Cartago 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 Cartago, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Cartago and $1,396 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $658 per month in Cartago and $487 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cartago, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Cartago it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cartago – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Cartago. 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.