🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $736 in Cotabato City versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,158 in Cotabato City versus $2,582 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,580 in Cotabato City versus $3,757 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Cotabato City costs roughly 48% 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
$4.32₱262
$3.42Rp 59.1K
26.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.28₱1,469
$32.96Rp 570.4K
-26.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.48₱271
$5.08Rp 87.9K
-11.81%
Cappuccino
$2.04₱123
$2.82Rp 48.9K
-27.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87₱52.4
$1.37Rp 23.7K
-36.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53₱31.86
$0.71Rp 12.3K
-25.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.46₱88.3
$2.97Rp 51.3K
-50.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75₱106
$3.91Rp 67.7K
-55.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07₱64.8
$1.75Rp 30.2K
-38.86%
White Bread(500g)
$0.34₱20.34
$2.52Rp 43.5K
-86.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.84₱50.9
$1.21Rp 20.9K
-30.58%
Eggs
$2.01₱122
$2.33Rp 40.4K
-13.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.18₱374
$14.50Rp 250.8K
-57.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.32₱201
$4.36Rp 75.4K
-23.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.21₱436
$12.05Rp 208.4K
-40.17%
Apples(1kg)
$1.39₱84.4
$3.82Rp 66.1K
-63.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.03₱62.6
$1.61Rp 27.9K
-36.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.05₱63.3
$2.70Rp 46.8K
-61.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.13₱68.2
$2.23Rp 38.6K
-49.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.27₱77.0
$1.90Rp 32.8K
-33.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.47₱89.1
$2.18Rp 37.8K
-32.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.51₱30.80
$1.03Rp 17.8K
-50.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56₱33.66
$0.77Rp 13.4K
-27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.90₱54.6
$3.18Rp 55.1K
-71.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.28₱501
$23.23Rp 401.9K
-64.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36₱82.1
$2.85Rp 49.3K
-52.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54₱93.3
$2.72Rp 47.0K
-43.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26₱15.73
$0.29Rp 5,056
-10.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.43Rp 145.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.86₱52.0
$0.49Rp 8,400
75.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.23₱13.90
$0.45Rp 7,865
-48.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.11₱128
$6.28Rp 108.6K
-66.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₱68.8
$0.85Rp 14.7K
34.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K₱1.4M
$26.1KRp 450.9M
-14.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K₱1.3M
$31.5KRp 545.5M
-34.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$106₱6,385
$79.8Rp 1.4M
32.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.24₱2,072
$4.09Rp 70.7K
737.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.31₱2,197
$24.06Rp 416.4K
50.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.32₱2,077
$96.2Rp 1.7M
-64.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.33₱262
$6.53Rp 112.9K
-33.69%
Cinema Ticket
$3.10₱187
$4.13Rp 71.5K
-24.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$121₱7,345
$297Rp 5.1M
-59.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,335₱262.3K
$6,661Rp 115.3M
-34.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.35₱2,744
$55.0Rp 950.9K
-17.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.23₱1,829
$38.75Rp 670.5K
-21.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.1₱4,784
$89.6Rp 1.6M
-11.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.0₱4,112
$78.9Rp 1.4M
-13.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$266₱16.1K
$1,018Rp 17.6M
-73.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$174₱10.5K
$660Rp 11.4M
-73.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$580₱35.1K
$3,435Rp 59.4M
-83.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$392₱23.7K
$2,053Rp 35.5M
-80.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,222₱134.4K
$2,981Rp 51.6M
-25.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,368Rp 41.0M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cotabato City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$172Rp 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: April 19, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $266 in Cotabato City and $1,018 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $24 in Cotabato City vs $33 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $147 vs $299 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 91% 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 $1,104 in Cotabato City and $2,112 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: $266 in Cotabato City versus $1,018 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 103% 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 $736 per month in Cotabato City versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – a 91% 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 $736 in Cotabato City versus $1,408 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 $736 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 91% 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