Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $934 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cebu, Philippines
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$934
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cebu and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $934 in Cebu versus $1,349 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Cebu $934
  • Ubud, Bali $1,349

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,423 in Cebu versus $2,305 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Cebu $1,423
  • Ubud, Bali $2,305

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,913 in Cebu versus $3,261 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Cebu $1,913
  • Ubud, Bali $3,261

Living in Cebu costs roughly 31% less than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.79 ₱243
$3.32 Rp 60.4K
14.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.33 ₱1,493
$35.64 Rp 648.1K
-34.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.94 ₱252
$5.53 Rp 100.6K
-28.75%
Cappuccino
$2.54 ₱163
$2.72 Rp 49.4K
-6.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 ₱100
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
-7.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ₱29.87
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
-38.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.77 ₱113
$2.65 Rp 48.3K
-33.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 ₱142
$4.38 Rp 79.7K
-49.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 ₱121
$1.49 Rp 27.1K
27.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱87.3
$2.28 Rp 41.4K
-40.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.94 ₱59.9
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
-21.01%
Eggs
$1.99 ₱127
$2.04 Rp 37.0K
-2.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.70 ₱621
$17.70 Rp 321.9K
-45.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 ₱277
$3.96 Rp 72.1K
9.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.51 ₱481
$12.19 Rp 221.7K
-38.39%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 ₱212
$3.66 Rp 66.5K
-9.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 ₱87.6
$1.52 Rp 27.6K
-9.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.34 ₱150
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
4.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 ₱95.5
$1.97 Rp 35.9K
-24.37%
Potato (1kg)
$2.30 ₱147
$1.85 Rp 33.6K
24.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 ₱120
$2.42 Rp 44.1K
-22.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ₱70.5
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
11.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱40.42
$0.51 Rp 9,336
23.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.86 ₱183
$2.22 Rp 40.4K
28.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.08 ₱389
$22.24 Rp 404.4K
-72.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 ₱81.6
$2.26 Rp 41.1K
-43.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₱110
$2.97 Rp 54.0K
-42.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 ₱14.01
$0.25 Rp 4,564
-12.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.34 ₱790
$7.82 Rp 142.3K
57.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 ₱47.61
$0.44 Rp 7,992
68.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 ₱14.11
$0.43 Rp 7,821
-48.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.28 ₱274
$5.41 Rp 98.4K
-20.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱83.8
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
59.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K ₱1.3M
$23.8K Rp 433.5M
-12.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0K ₱1.2M
$31.7K Rp 577.3M
-40.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$118 ₱7,577
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
49.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.76 ₱1,009
$6.45 Rp 117.2K
144.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.33 ₱1,813
$18.58 Rp 337.8K
52.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.94 ₱2,108
$49.48 Rp 899.8K
-33.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.49 ₱415
$17.65 Rp 320.9K
-63.23%
Cinema Ticket
$5.45 ₱349
$4.27 Rp 77.7K
27.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$276 ₱17.6K
$491 Rp 8.9M
-43.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,789 ₱498.5K
$5,674 Rp 103.2M
37.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.18 ₱3,083
$44.64 Rp 811.7K
7.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.47 ₱1,566
$34.95 Rp 635.6K
-29.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.3 ₱4,818
$79.9 Rp 1.5M
-5.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.0 ₱3,713
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
-26.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 ₱30.5K
$1,125 Rp 20.5M
-57.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$322 ₱20.6K
$671 Rp 12.2M
-52.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 ₱61.6K
$3,565 Rp 64.8M
-72.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$626 ₱40.0K
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
-63.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,551 ₱291.3K
$2,732 Rp 49.7M
66.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,028 ₱193.8K
$2,284 Rp 41.5M
32.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$333 ₱21.3K
$164 Rp 3.0M
103.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
13.78
-47.75%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$322
Ubud, Bali
$672 109% $350
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$204
Ubud, Bali
$288 41.6% $85
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$163
Ubud, Bali
$104 36% $58
Eating Out
Cebu
$94
Ubud, Bali
$108 14.4% $14
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$93
Ubud, Bali
$108 16% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Ubud, Bali
$58 32.3% $14
Getting Around
Cebu
$15
Ubud, Bali
$11 24.2% $3.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Cebu and $1,125 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays about 2 times more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $23 in Cebu vs $36 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $288 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
21:01 9:01 PM
21:01 9:01 PM
Same time as Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 63.99 PHP (100 PHP = 1.56 USD). 1 EUR = 71.41 PHP (100 PHP = 1.4 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 18,183 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.5 USD). 1 EUR = 20,291 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.93 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Ubud, Bali 2,300 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Cebu vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Cebu is about 31% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay in Cebu is about 2 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Cebu and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Cebu versus $1,125 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Ubud, Bali?
All in, you’ll spend $934 per month in Cebu versus $1,349 in Ubud, Bali – Cebu is about 31% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 37% less than in Cebu. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Is Cebu or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Ubud, Bali are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

Cebu vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?