Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chester, CA and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,331 a month against $2,652 in Chester, CA, rent and utilities included – about $15,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chester, CA, United States
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Chester, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,652
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,331
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chester, CA 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 Chester, CA and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,652 in Chester, CA versus $1,331 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Chester, CA $2,652
  • Ubud, Bali $1,331

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,872 in Chester, CA versus $2,255 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Chester, CA $3,872
  • Ubud, Bali $2,255

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,093 in Chester, CA versus $3,180 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Chester, CA $5,093
  • Ubud, Bali $3,180

Living in Chester, CA is roughly 99% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Chester, CA is 96% above, Ubud, Bali is 2% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chester, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.04 $15.04
$3.38 Rp 61.3K
344.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.8 $55.8
$34.65 Rp 629.1K
60.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.75 $12.75
$5.57 Rp 101.2K
128.90%
Cappuccino
$5.20 $5.20
$2.62 Rp 47.6K
98.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.54 Rp 27.9K
25.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.64 Rp 11.6K
132.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.07 $5.07
$2.67 Rp 48.4K
89.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.33 $6.33
$4.26 Rp 77.4K
48.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chester, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.30 $1.30
$1.46 Rp 26.5K
-10.96%
White Bread (500g)
$4.06 $4.06
$2.29 Rp 41.6K
77.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.48 $4.48
$1.11 Rp 20.1K
303.60%
Eggs
$5.82 $5.82
$2.10 Rp 38.1K
177.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.01 $15.01
$15.94 Rp 289.4K
-5.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.12 $15.12
$3.88 Rp 70.5K
289.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.14 $18.14
$11.40 Rp 207.0K
59.12%
Apples (1kg)
$5.12 $5.12
$3.55 Rp 64.5K
44.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.54 Rp 27.9K
25.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
93.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.78 $5.78
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
193.40%
Potato (1kg)
$3.67 $3.67
$1.86 Rp 33.7K
97.31%
Onion (1kg)
$3.27 $3.27
$2.42 Rp 43.9K
35.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.02 Rp 18.6K
140.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$0.52 Rp 9,483
407.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.92 $8.92
$2.20 Rp 39.9K
305.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.87 $13.87
$21.79 Rp 395.6K
-36.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.70 $2.70
$2.33 Rp 42.2K
15.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 $3.51
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
18.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Chester, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 $1.71
$0.25 Rp 4,546
584.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.3 $66.3
$8.17 Rp 148.4K
711.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.88 $3.88
$0.44 Rp 7,947
781.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 $1.93
$0.47 Rp 8,496
310.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.45 $25.45
$5.60 Rp 101.7K
354.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 $1.48
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
78.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K $34.7K
$24.4K Rp 443.8M
41.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K $27.3K
$31.7K Rp 575.5M
-13.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chester, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$234 $234
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
202.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.3 $60.3
$6.14 Rp 111.6K
882.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.0 $68.0
$18.92 Rp 343.4K
259.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chester, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.44 $34.44
$51.0 Rp 925.8K
-32.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.25 Rp 331.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.07 $17.07
$4.38 Rp 79.6K
289.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chester, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,476 $1,476
$492 Rp 8.9M
199.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.9K $22.9K
$12.2K Rp 221.9M
87.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chester, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.9 $60.9
$45.16 Rp 819.9K
34.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.96 $45.96
$34.89 Rp 633.4K
31.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.3 $93.3
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
19.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 $128
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
64.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chester, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,585 $1,585
$1,078 Rp 19.6M
47.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,253 $1,253
$665 Rp 12.1M
88.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,557 $2,557
$3,510 Rp 63.7M
-27.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,143 $2,143
$1,671 Rp 30.3M
28.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,580 $2,580
$2,340 Rp 42.5M
10.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,135 $2,135
$2,236 Rp 40.6M
-4.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chester, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$166 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
13.78
-52.83%

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

Last update for Chester, CA: November 2, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chester, CA
$1.3K
Ubud, Bali
$665 46.9% $588
Groceries & Markets
Chester, CA
$460
Ubud, Bali
$279 39.3% $181
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chester, CA
$363
Ubud, Bali
$103 71.7% $260
Eating Out
Chester, CA
$273
Ubud, Bali
$106 61.2% $167
Clothing & Footwear
Chester, CA
$148
Ubud, Bali
$106 27.9% $41
Getting Around
Chester, CA
$87
Ubud, Bali
$12 86.2% $75
Sport & Entertainment
Chester, CA
$69
Ubud, Bali
$60 12.8% $8.8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,585 in Chester, CA and $1,078 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $56 in Chester, CA vs $35 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $460 vs $279 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Chester, CA
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
14:16 2:16 PM
06:16 6:16 AM
16 h ahead of Chester, CA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
36,801
74,800
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.13 USD (1 USD = 0.888 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 18,155 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,438 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chester, CA Ubud, Bali 13,430 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chester, CA
  • 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
Chester, CA vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chester, CA or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 50% lower than in Chester, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chester, CA and in Ubud, Bali?
You’d need roughly $3,978 in Chester, CA and $1,996 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Chester, CA compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,585 in Chester, CA versus $1,078 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Chester, CA and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $35 versus $56 in Chester, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Chester, CA compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you’ll spend $2,652 per month in Chester, CA versus $1,331 in Ubud, Bali – Ubud, Bali is about 50% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chester, CA or in Ubud, Bali?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Ubud, Bali is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Chester, CA or 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Chester, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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