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: $2,993 in Charlottesville, VA versus $1,374 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,502 in Charlottesville, VA versus $2,313 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,012 in Charlottesville, VA versus $3,252 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Charlottesville, VA is roughly 118% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Charlottesville, VA 122% above, Ubud, Bali 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Charlottesville, VA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.65 $19.65
$3.32 Rp 59.4K
491.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$35.33 Rp 631.4K
183.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.88 $12.88
$5.33 Rp 95.3K
141.65%
Cappuccino
$4.47 $4.47
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
62.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$1.73 Rp 30.9K
60.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
145.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.38 $6.38
$2.95 Rp 52.7K
116.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 $5.91
$4.44 Rp 79.3K
33.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Charlottesville, VA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.50 Rp 26.8K
-25.33%
White Bread (500g)
$3.56 $3.56
$2.30 Rp 41.1K
54.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.15 $6.15
$1.10 Rp 19.6K
459.09%
Eggs
$4.85 $4.85
$2.16 Rp 38.6K
124.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.71 $16.71
$17.09 Rp 305.4K
-2.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.27 $15.27
$3.88 Rp 69.3K
293.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.84 $17.84
$11.92 Rp 213.0K
49.66%
Apples (1kg)
$6.54 $6.54
$3.57 Rp 63.7K
83.19%
Banana (1kg)
$3.85 $3.85
$1.58 Rp 28.3K
143.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.31 $7.31
$2.36 Rp 42.2K
209.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.90 $7.90
$1.97 Rp 35.1K
301.02%
Potato (1kg)
$6.53 $6.53
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
260.77%
Onion (1kg)
$6.69 $6.69
$2.39 Rp 42.7K
179.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.44 $2.44
$1.02 Rp 18.2K
139.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.23 $3.23
$0.49 Rp 8,782
559.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.94 $8.94
$2.25 Rp 40.1K
297.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.67 $15.67
$22.30 Rp 398.5K
-29.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.37 Rp 42.3K
-26.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81 $3.81
$2.90 Rp 51.7K
31.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Charlottesville, VA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.25 Rp 4,452
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.55 Rp 152.8K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.02 $4.02
$0.44 Rp 7,897
813.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.42 Rp 7,547
388.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.33 $25.33
$5.66 Rp 101.2K
347.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
14.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8K $36.8K
$23.7K Rp 424.2M
54.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$31.0K Rp 553.6M
-17.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Charlottesville, VA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$294 $294
$82.3 Rp 1.5M
257.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.0 $52.0
$6.30 Rp 112.6K
725.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$98.6 $98.6
$18.63 Rp 333.0K
429.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Charlottesville, VA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$70.2 $70.2
$54.7 Rp 978.1K
28.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.70 $7.70
$18.45 Rp 329.7K
-58.27%
Cinema Ticket
$15.20 $15.20
$4.24 Rp 75.8K
258.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Charlottesville, VA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,408 $1,408
$484 Rp 8.7M
190.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.2K $30.2K
$5,590 Rp 99.9M
439.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Charlottesville, VA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.22 $47.22
$45.77 Rp 818.0K
3.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.68 $47.68
$35.69 Rp 637.9K
33.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.9 $93.9
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
19.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 $122
$80.1 Rp 1.4M
51.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Charlottesville, VA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,979 $1,979
$1,147 Rp 20.5M
72.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,393 $1,393
$678 Rp 12.1M
105.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,118 $3,118
$3,504 Rp 62.6M
-11.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,602 $2,602
$1,688 Rp 30.2M
54.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,772 $2,772
$2,788 Rp 49.8M
-0.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,773 $2,773
$2,257 Rp 40.3M
22.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Charlottesville, VA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,587 $4,587
$165 Rp 2.9M
2678.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.05
13.78
-56.10%

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

Last update for Charlottesville, VA: September 28, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,979 in Charlottesville, VA and $1,147 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Charlottesville, VA pays 2679% 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: $100 in Charlottesville, VA vs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $525 vs $286 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 118% in total monthly costs ($2,993 vs $1,374 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 2679% 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: $1,979 in Charlottesville, VA versus $1,147 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 83% higher in Charlottesville, VA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Charlottesville, VA or Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $2,993 per month in Charlottesville, VA versus $1,374 in Ubud, Bali – a 118% 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 $1,374 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,993 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 118% 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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