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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $568 in Caruaru versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $932 in Caruaru versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,297 in Caruaru versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Caruaru costs roughly 60% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Caruaru is 58% below, Ubud, Bali is 4% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Caruaru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.72 R$23.89
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
32.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.81 R$136
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
-17.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.17 R$31.25
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
26.95%
Cappuccino
$1.67 R$8.43
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
-39.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00 R$5.04
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
-24.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 R$1.89
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
-47.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.11 R$5.61
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
-61.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 R$7.40
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
-61.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Caruaru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 R$5.92
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
-31.58%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 R$5.19
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
-58.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.87 R$4.42
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
-27.50%
Eggs
$2.44 R$12.33
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.57 R$18.05
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
-75.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.67 R$13.50
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
-38.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.20 R$31.37
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
-49.22%
Apples (1kg)
$1.29 R$6.54
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
-64.95%
Banana (1kg)
$0.90 R$4.54
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
-41.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.77 R$3.90
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
-72.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.03 R$5.20
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
-55.79%
Potato (1kg)
$0.83 R$4.21
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
-57.87%
Onion (1kg)
$0.83 R$4.21
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
-64.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.34 R$1.73
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
-67.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 R$2.80
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
-24.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.71 R$13.74
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
-17.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$2.83 R$14.34
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
-87.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 R$7.31
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
-48.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 R$14.90
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
5.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Caruaru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 R$4.26
$0.29 Rp 5,217
189.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.61 R$125
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
205.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 R$9.18
$0.45 Rp 8,047
302.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.63 R$3.21
$0.45 Rp 8,094
40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.72 R$13.75
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
-56.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 R$3.84
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
-10.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K R$94.7K
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
-28.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9K R$146.2K
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
-8.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Caruaru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.2 R$259
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
-36.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.24 R$36.65
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
78.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.88 R$44.95
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
-63.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Caruaru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.32 R$67.5
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
-86.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.43 R$139
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
325.27%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43 R$32.56
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
59.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Caruaru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$98.2 R$497
$304 Rp 5.4M
-67.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,335 R$32.1K
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
-4.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Caruaru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.14 R$178
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
-35.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.96 R$228
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
15.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 R$556
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
27.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.0 R$299
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
-22.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Caruaru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$150 R$761
$986 Rp 17.7M
-84.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$115 R$582
$658 Rp 11.8M
-82.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$325 R$1,647
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
-90.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 R$1,201
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
-88.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,374 R$6,954
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
-49.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,291 R$6,533
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
-42.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Caruaru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$259 R$1,309
$163 Rp 2.9M
58.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10
13.28
-24.70%

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

Last update for Caruaru: June 8, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $150 in Caruaru and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Caruaru pays 58% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $27.00 in Caruaru vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $129 vs $297 per month, with Caruaru 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
Caruaru vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Caruaru and Ubud, Bali?
Caruaru and Ubud, Bali differ by about 147% in total monthly costs ($568 vs $1,404 including rent). Caruaru is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Caruaru or Ubud, Bali?
Caruaru pays 58% 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 Caruaru and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $150 in Caruaru versus $986 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 Caruaru and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $98.2 in Caruaru versus $304 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 131% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $568 in Caruaru versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Caruaru but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Caruaru the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Caruaru 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 Caruaru or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Caruaru 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: Caruaru or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Caruaru gentler on the wallet – expenses run 147% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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