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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,030 per month in Chapala vs $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,526 per month in Chapala vs $2,549 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,023 per month in Chapala vs $3,694 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Chapala is about 27% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chapala sits 23% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chapala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.98 MX$137
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
123.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.95 MX$600
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
7.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.79 MX$117
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
39.71%
Cappuccino
$3.35 MX$57.4
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
21.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 MX$35.38
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
56.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.68
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
38.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 MX$34.75
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
-30.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 MX$52.8
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
-18.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chapala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 MX$27.23
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
-7.02%
White Bread (500g)
$2.61 MX$44.84
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
5.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 MX$27.15
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
31.67%
Eggs
$2.17 MX$37.24
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
-11.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.91 MX$136
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
-44.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.22 MX$124
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
67.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.43 MX$128
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
-39.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 MX$38.40
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
-39.13%
Banana (1kg)
$0.96 MX$16.52
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
-38.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.89 MX$15.31
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
-68.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.43 MX$24.52
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
-38.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.41 MX$24.26
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
-28.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 MX$17.62
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
-55.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 MX$16.12
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
-11.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 MX$15.01
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
19.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.05 MX$69.5
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
23.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.09 MX$156
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
-60.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 MX$23.50
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
-51.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$28.63
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
-39.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Chapala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.37
$0.29 Rp 5,217
106.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.04 MX$17.77
$0.45 Rp 8,047
131.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 MX$24.56
$0.45 Rp 8,094
217.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 MX$53.4
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
-50.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 MX$21.67
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
48.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K MX$324.8K
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
-27.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.8K MX$322.1K
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
-40.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chapala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$47.85 MX$821
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
-40.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.10 MX$294
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
321.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.47 MX$437
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
4.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chapala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.54 MX$438
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
-73.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.13 MX$277
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
150.08%
Cinema Ticket
$4.25 MX$73.0
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
5.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chapala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$180 MX$3,092
$304 Rp 5.4M
-40.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,657 MX$45.6K
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
-59.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chapala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.78 MX$734
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
-21.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.68 MX$269
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
-59.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.3 MX$1,138
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
-23.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.1 MX$929
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
-29.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chapala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$457 MX$7,845
$986 Rp 17.7M
-53.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$419 MX$7,186
$658 Rp 11.8M
-36.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$807 MX$13.9K
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
-76.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$638 MX$11.0K
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
-69.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$747 MX$12.8K
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
-72.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$734 MX$12.6K
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
-67.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chapala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$163 Rp 2.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.24
13.28
-15.36%

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

Last update for Chapala: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $457 in Chapala versus $986 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 $35.00 in Chapala versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $216 in Chapala vs $297 in Ubud, Bali – so Chapala wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Chapala vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chapala or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali costs about 36% more than Chapala, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chapala vs Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,544 per month in Chapala and $2,106 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chapala or Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chapala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Chapala vs Ubud, Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Chapala and $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chapala or Ubud, Bali?
Groceries cost about 38% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chapala or Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chapala, where all-in costs run around $1,030, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In Chapala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chapala or Ubud, Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chapala costs $1,030 versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chapala compared to Ubud, Bali?
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.
Should I move to Chapala or Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Chapala. 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.

Chapala vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities