Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbus, GA and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbus, GA and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,294 in Columbus, GA versus $1,374 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,055 in Columbus, GA versus $2,313 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,816 in Columbus, GA versus $3,252 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Columbus, GA is roughly 67% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Columbus, GA 70% above, Ubud, Bali 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Columbus, GA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.08 $22.08
$3.32 Rp 59.4K
565.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.6 $81.6
$35.33 Rp 631.4K
130.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.88 $9.88
$5.33 Rp 95.3K
85.37%
Cappuccino
$5.09 $5.09
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
85.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$1.73 Rp 30.9K
57.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
143.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.97 $4.97
$2.95 Rp 52.7K
68.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.90 $6.90
$4.44 Rp 79.3K
55.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Columbus, GA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.50 Rp 26.8K
-40.67%
White Bread (500g)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.30 Rp 41.1K
33.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.10 Rp 19.6K
78.18%
Eggs
$2.92 $2.92
$2.16 Rp 38.6K
35.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.97 $5.97
$17.09 Rp 305.4K
-65.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.36 $10.36
$3.88 Rp 69.3K
167.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.19 $9.19
$11.92 Rp 213.0K
-22.90%
Apples (1kg)
$3.61 $3.61
$3.57 Rp 63.7K
1.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 $1.36
$1.58 Rp 28.3K
-13.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.36 Rp 42.2K
15.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.65 $3.65
$1.97 Rp 35.1K
85.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
-7.18%
Onion (1kg)
$1.83 $1.83
$2.39 Rp 42.7K
-23.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.02 Rp 18.2K
69.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$0.49 Rp 8,782
261.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.93 $6.93
$2.25 Rp 40.1K
208.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$22.30 Rp 398.5K
-33.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.37 Rp 42.3K
-24.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 $1.27
$2.90 Rp 51.7K
-56.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Columbus, GA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.28 $1.28
$0.25 Rp 4,452
412.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.9 $53.9
$8.55 Rp 152.8K
530.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.95 $1.95
$0.44 Rp 7,897
343.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.26 $1.26
$0.42 Rp 7,547
200.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.24 $21.24
$5.66 Rp 101.2K
275.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
9.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K $36.7K
$23.7K Rp 424.2M
54.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$31.0K Rp 553.6M
-17.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Columbus, GA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 $170
$82.3 Rp 1.5M
106.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.06 $47.06
$6.30 Rp 112.6K
646.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.6 $64.6
$18.63 Rp 333.0K
246.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Columbus, GA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.96 $25.96
$54.7 Rp 978.1K
-52.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.44 $7.44
$18.45 Rp 329.7K
-59.67%
Cinema Ticket
$12.48 $12.48
$4.24 Rp 75.8K
194.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Columbus, GA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$992 $992
$484 Rp 8.7M
104.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.0K $14.0K
$5,590 Rp 99.9M
149.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Columbus, GA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.71 $44.71
$45.77 Rp 818.0K
-2.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.47 $29.47
$35.69 Rp 637.9K
-17.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.6 $91.6
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
17.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 $108
$80.1 Rp 1.4M
35.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Columbus, GA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,275 $1,275
$1,147 Rp 20.5M
11.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,223 $1,223
$678 Rp 12.1M
80.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,404 $1,404
$3,504 Rp 62.6M
-59.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,236 $1,236
$1,688 Rp 30.2M
-26.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,198 $6,198
$2,788 Rp 49.8M
122.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,199 $6,199
$2,257 Rp 40.3M
174.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Columbus, GA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,601 $3,601
$165 Rp 2.9M
2081.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.1
13.78
-55.73%

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

Last update for Columbus, GA: September 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,275 in Columbus, GA and $1,147 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Columbus, GA pays 2082% 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: $82.0 in Columbus, GA vs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $290 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
Columbus, GA vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Columbus, GA or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 67% lower than in Columbus, GA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Columbus, GA or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 2082% higher in Columbus, GA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Columbus, GA compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,275 in Columbus, GA versus $1,147 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Columbus, GA compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $2,294 per month in Columbus, GA versus $1,374 in Ubud, Bali – a 67% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Columbus, GA compared to Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 530% less than in Columbus, GA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Columbus, GA or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,374 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,294 in Columbus, GA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Columbus, GA. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Columbus, GA or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,374 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Columbus, GA compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Columbus, GA 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Columbus, GA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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