Cost of Living Comparison Between Cotabato City and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Cotabato City and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $739 in Cotabato City versus $1,397 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,153 in Cotabato City versus $2,588 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,567 in Cotabato City versus $3,778 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Cotabato City costs roughly 47% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cotabato City is 45% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.34 ₱268
$3.43 Rp 61.4K
26.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.27 ₱1,498
$31.97 Rp 572.5K
-24.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.51 ₱278
$5.05 Rp 90.5K
-10.69%
Cappuccino
$2.12 ₱131
$2.71 Rp 48.6K
-21.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 ₱50.1
$1.39 Rp 24.9K
-41.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₱30.52
$0.74 Rp 13.3K
-33.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.38 ₱85.1
$2.89 Rp 51.8K
-52.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 ₱107
$3.79 Rp 67.9K
-54.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 ₱64.1
$1.79 Rp 32.1K
-41.90%
White Bread (500g)
$0.34 ₱20.98
$2.51 Rp 44.9K
-86.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.83 ₱51.2
$1.21 Rp 21.8K
-31.40%
Eggs
$2.08 ₱129
$2.37 Rp 42.4K
-12.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.12 ₱378
$14.43 Rp 258.4K
-57.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.36 ₱207
$4.15 Rp 74.3K
-19.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.14 ₱441
$12.11 Rp 217.0K
-41.04%
Apples (1kg)
$1.40 ₱86.4
$3.77 Rp 67.5K
-62.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 ₱67.1
$1.63 Rp 29.1K
-33.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.08 ₱66.7
$2.71 Rp 48.5K
-60.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.16 ₱71.7
$2.26 Rp 40.4K
-48.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.21 ₱74.7
$1.93 Rp 34.5K
-37.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.55 ₱95.8
$2.19 Rp 39.3K
-29.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.55 ₱34.06
$1.02 Rp 18.2K
-46.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ₱36.99
$0.72 Rp 12.8K
-16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$0.85 ₱52.7
$3.18 Rp 57.0K
-73.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.96 ₱492
$23.84 Rp 426.9K
-66.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 ₱84.0
$2.77 Rp 49.7K
-50.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₱95.2
$2.75 Rp 49.3K
-44.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₱16.02
$0.27 Rp 4,787
-3.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.20 Rp 146.8K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.93 ₱57.2
$0.48 Rp 8,656
93.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.25 ₱15.50
$0.42 Rp 7,547
-40.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.18 ₱135
$6.03 Rp 108.0K
-63.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₱67.3
$0.82 Rp 14.7K
32.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K ₱1.4M
$26.6K Rp 475.7M
-15.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6K ₱1.3M
$32.2K Rp 576.7M
-36.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ₱6,311
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
30.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.33 ₱2,119
$3.91 Rp 70.1K
778.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.81 ₱2,272
$23.91 Rp 428.3K
53.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.30 ₱2,117
$96.2 Rp 1.7M
-64.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.52 ₱279
$6.53 Rp 116.9K
-30.78%
Cinema Ticket
$3.28 ₱202
$4.01 Rp 71.9K
-18.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$121 ₱7,497
$303 Rp 5.4M
-59.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,319 ₱266.6K
$6,551 Rp 117.3M
-34.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.25 ₱2,793
$55.3 Rp 990.6K
-18.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.55 ₱1,824
$38.32 Rp 686.3K
-22.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.8 ₱4,738
$88.5 Rp 1.6M
-13.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.5 ₱4,290
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
-9.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$269 ₱16.6K
$986 Rp 17.7M
-72.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$179 ₱11.1K
$682 Rp 12.2M
-73.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$577 ₱35.6K
$3,420 Rp 61.3M
-83.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$391 ₱24.1K
$2,075 Rp 37.2M
-81.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,723 ₱168.1K
$2,762 Rp 49.5M
-1.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$888 ₱54.8K
$2,243 Rp 40.2M
-60.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$169 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.56
13.28
-28.01%

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

Last update for Cotabato City: July 20, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $269 in Cotabato City and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cotabato City vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $148 vs $298 per month, with Cotabato City 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
Cotabato City vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cotabato City or Ubud, Bali?
Cotabato City wins on cost – living expenses run 89% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cotabato City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Cotabato City and in Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $1,108 in Cotabato City and $2,096 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 Cotabato City compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $269 in Cotabato City versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Cotabato City or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 102% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Cotabato City compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $739 per month in Cotabato City versus $1,397 in Ubud, Bali – a 89% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Cotabato City or in Ubud, Bali?
At $739 in Cotabato City versus $1,397 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cotabato City but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Cotabato City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cotabato City or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Cotabato City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $739 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cotabato City hard to pass up.
How safe is Cotabato City compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Cotabato City 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 Cotabato City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 89% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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