🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $724 in Cotabato City versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Cotabato City versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,584 in Cotabato City versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Cotabato City costs roughly 49% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cotabato City is 46% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41₱272
$3.56Rp 64.8K
23.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.90₱1,473
$32.73Rp 594.6K
-26.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.63₱285
$4.95Rp 89.9K
-6.46%
Cappuccino
$2.03₱125
$2.71Rp 49.3K
-25.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87₱53.4
$1.34Rp 24.4K
-35.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53₱32.60
$0.70Rp 12.7K
-24.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.41₱86.8
$2.92Rp 53.0K
-51.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75₱108
$3.96Rp 71.9K
-55.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04₱64.2
$1.81Rp 32.8K
-42.54%
White Bread(500g)
$0.34₱20.95
$2.52Rp 45.7K
-86.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.91₱55.9
$1.16Rp 21.0K
-21.55%
Eggs
$2.01₱124
$2.46Rp 44.7K
-18.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.86₱361
$14.71Rp 267.3K
-60.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.26₱201
$4.32Rp 78.4K
-24.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.43₱458
$12.14Rp 220.5K
-38.80%
Apples(1kg)
$1.40₱86.4
$3.84Rp 69.8K
-63.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.04₱64.1
$1.56Rp 28.3K
-33.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.07₱66.1
$2.83Rp 51.5K
-62.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.12₱69.0
$2.33Rp 42.2K
-51.93%
Potato(1kg)
$1.26₱77.9
$1.91Rp 34.8K
-34.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50₱92.4
$2.20Rp 40.0K
-31.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.51₱31.14
$1.01Rp 18.4K
-49.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57₱34.95
$0.78Rp 14.1K
-26.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.86₱52.8
$3.32Rp 60.2K
-74.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.11₱500
$23.74Rp 431.2K
-65.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42₱87.3
$2.79Rp 50.7K
-49.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50₱92.3
$2.86Rp 52.0K
-47.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28₱17.27
$0.27Rp 4,883
3.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.03Rp 145.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.88₱54.1
$0.46Rp 8,291
91.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25₱15.49
$0.45Rp 8,176
-44.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.09₱129
$6.10Rp 110.7K
-65.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10₱68.1
$0.79Rp 14.4K
39.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4K₱1.4M
$26.1KRp 475.0M
-14.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3K₱1.3M
$32.1KRp 583.5M
-33.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105₱6,483
$79.9Rp 1.5M
31.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.22₱2,109
$4.06Rp 73.8K
742.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.53₱2,252
$23.52Rp 427.3K
55.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.34₱2,117
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-65.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.33₱267
$6.63Rp 120.4K
-34.69%
Cinema Ticket
$3.14₱194
$4.15Rp 75.3K
-24.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$117₱7,234
$304Rp 5.5M
-61.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,325₱266.6K
$6,613Rp 120.1M
-34.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.46₱2,864
$55.5Rp 1.0M
-16.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.70₱1,831
$38.31Rp 695.9K
-22.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.0₱4,872
$88.6Rp 1.6M
-10.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.8₱4,239
$77.9Rp 1.4M
-11.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$263₱16.2K
$1,006Rp 18.3M
-73.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$179₱11.0K
$675Rp 12.3M
-73.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$576₱35.5K
$3,442Rp 62.5M
-83.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$397₱24.4K
$2,039Rp 37.0M
-80.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,371₱146.2K
$2,841Rp 51.6M
-16.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,070₱66.0K
$2,264Rp 41.1M
-52.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$165Rp 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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $263 in Cotabato City and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $24.00 in Cotabato City vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $147 vs $302 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 96% 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $1,086 in Cotabato City and $2,129 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $263 in Cotabato City versus $1,006 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 Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 106% 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 $724 per month in Cotabato City versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – a 96% 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 Ubud, Bali?
At $724 in Cotabato City versus $1,419 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 $724 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 96% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Cotabato City vs other spots: cost of living compared