Cost of Living Comparison Between Charlottesville, VA and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Charlottesville, VA and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,320 in Charlottesville, VA versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,937 in Charlottesville, VA versus $2,557 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,554 in Charlottesville, VA versus $3,723 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Charlottesville, VA is roughly 139% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Charlottesville, VA 149% above, Ubud, Bali 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Charlottesville, VA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.35 $22.35
$3.57 Rp 64.5K
526.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120 $120
$32.32 Rp 583.4K
272.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.17 $13.17
$5.01 Rp 90.4K
162.87%
Cappuccino
$5.27 $5.27
$2.82 Rp 51.0K
86.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 $2.76
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
104.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
167.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.02 $6.02
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
105.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.85 $5.85
$3.94 Rp 71.1K
48.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Charlottesville, VA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 $1.17
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
-34.27%
White Bread (500g)
$3.51 $3.51
$2.45 Rp 44.2K
43.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.97 $6.97
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
506.09%
Eggs
$5.86 $5.86
$2.41 Rp 43.6K
143.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.19 $19.19
$14.33 Rp 258.7K
33.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$20.18 $20.18
$4.19 Rp 75.6K
381.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.67 $17.67
$12.06 Rp 217.7K
46.52%
Apples (1kg)
$7.72 $7.72
$3.64 Rp 65.7K
112.09%
Banana (1kg)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
87.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.86 $7.86
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
181.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$10.87 $10.87
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
385.27%
Potato (1kg)
$4.82 $4.82
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
143.43%
Onion (1kg)
$3.61 $3.61
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
58.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
161.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.25 $3.25
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
311.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.95 $7.95
$3.19 Rp 57.6K
149.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.80 $15.80
$23.49 Rp 424.1K
-32.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.90 Rp 52.3K
-38.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 $3.71
$2.76 Rp 49.7K
34.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Charlottesville, VA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$0.27 Rp 4,813
622.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$151 $151
$8.37 Rp 151.1K
1705.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.39 $4.39
$0.45 Rp 8,167
875.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.44 $2.44
$0.46 Rp 8,298
430.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.63 $28.63
$6.07 Rp 109.6K
371.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
1.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$26.6K Rp 480.0M
0.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$32.5K Rp 587.6M
-22.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Charlottesville, VA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$287 $287
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
263.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.9 $52.9
$4.09 Rp 73.9K
1192.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$112 $112
$23.85 Rp 430.5K
368.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Charlottesville, VA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$72.0 $72.0
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
-27.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.35 Rp 114.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.19 $15.19
$4.01 Rp 72.3K
278.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Charlottesville, VA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,442 $1,442
$297 Rp 5.4M
385.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K $23.4K
$6,602 Rp 119.2M
255.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Charlottesville, VA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.27 $47.27
$53.4 Rp 964.5K
-11.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.95 $47.95
$38.11 Rp 688.1K
25.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.9 $93.9
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
5.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 $122
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
58.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Charlottesville, VA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,825 $1,825
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
78.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,568 $1,568
$680 Rp 12.3M
130.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,927 $2,927
$3,469 Rp 62.6M
-15.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,647 $2,647
$2,090 Rp 37.7M
26.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,751 $2,751
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
0.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,822 $2,822
$2,295 Rp 41.4M
22.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Charlottesville, VA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,585 $4,585
$164 Rp 3.0M
2700.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.32
13.28
-52.41%

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

Last update for Charlottesville, VA: July 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,825 in Charlottesville, VA and $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Charlottesville, VA pays 2701% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $120 in Charlottesville, VA vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $571 vs $298 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
Charlottesville, VA vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Charlottesville, VA and in Ubud, Bali?
Charlottesville, VA and Ubud, Bali differ by about 139% in total monthly costs ($3,320 vs $1,392 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Charlottesville, VA or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 2701% higher in Charlottesville, VA, 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 Charlottesville, VA and in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,825 in Charlottesville, VA versus $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $120 in Charlottesville, VA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Charlottesville, VA or Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $3,320 per month in Charlottesville, VA versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali – a 139% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,320 in Charlottesville, VA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Charlottesville, VA. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Charlottesville, VA 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 Charlottesville, VA or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Charlottesville, VA 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: Charlottesville, VA or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 139% less than in Charlottesville, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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