Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,730 per month in Cuenca vs $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,505 per month in Cuenca vs $2,348 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Cuenca vs $3,327 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Cuenca costs about 26% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Cuenca and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Cuenca by 26%, Ubud, Bali by 0%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cuenca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.40 €15.17
$3.44 Rp 60.9K
405.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.36 €41.29
$36.31 Rp 643.0K
30.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.46 €8.25
$5.71 Rp 101.0K
65.67%
Cappuccino
$2.12 €1.85
$2.67 Rp 47.3K
-20.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 €2.11
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
38.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 €1.41
$0.87 Rp 15.4K
85.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.39 €2.08
$2.95 Rp 52.3K
-18.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 €3.09
$4.52 Rp 80.0K
-21.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cuenca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 €0.93
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
-34.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.10 €1.83
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
-9.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 €1.35
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
39.64%
Eggs
$2.49 €2.17
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
13.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.75 €14.60
$17.69 Rp 313.3K
-5.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.51 €8.29
$4.10 Rp 72.5K
131.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.53 €18.77
$12.18 Rp 215.6K
76.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.82 €2.46
$3.71 Rp 65.6K
-23.99%
Banana (1kg)
$2.49 €2.17
$1.59 Rp 28.1K
56.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.56 €2.23
$2.28 Rp 40.4K
12.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.13 €2.72
$1.95 Rp 34.6K
60.51%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 €1.75
$1.91 Rp 33.7K
4.71%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 €2.05
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
0.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.69
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
91.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 €0.60
$0.55 Rp 9,773
23.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.40 €5.58
$2.23 Rp 39.5K
187.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.58 €4.00
$23.07 Rp 408.6K
-80.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 €0.89
$2.42 Rp 42.8K
-57.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 €1.99
$3.00 Rp 53.1K
-24.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Cuenca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.68 €1.46
$0.27 Rp 4,814
522.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.83 €29.49
$8.98 Rp 159.1K
276.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.46 €2.14
$0.48 Rp 8,566
412.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.11 €0.97
$0.43 Rp 7,679
158.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.47 €26.56
$5.64 Rp 99.9K
440.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.78 €1.55
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
122.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K €31.4K
$24.9K Rp 441.7M
44.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K €26.7K
$31.7K Rp 561.5M
-3.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuenca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 €146
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
104.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 €10.15
$6.49 Rp 115.0K
79.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.23 €19.38
$18.77 Rp 332.4K
18.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cuenca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.69 €35.47
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
-28.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.09 €14.90
$18.73 Rp 331.7K
-8.76%
Cinema Ticket
$9.25 €8.06
$4.54 Rp 80.4K
103.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cuenca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$352 €307
$481 Rp 8.5M
-26.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,204 €7,151
$5,711 Rp 101.1M
43.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cuenca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.6 €81.6
$45.52 Rp 806.0K
105.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.55 €35.35
$35.88 Rp 635.4K
13.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €88.4
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
26.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 €103
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
49.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cuenca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$920 €802
$1,115 Rp 19.7M
-17.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$703 €613
$698 Rp 12.4M
0.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,415 €1,233
$3,637 Rp 64.4M
-61.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,043 €909
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
-39.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,446 €3,004
$2,784 Rp 49.3M
23.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,325 €2,026
$2,290 Rp 40.5M
1.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cuenca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,450 €1,264
$168 Rp 3.0M
762.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.46
13.78
-74.89%

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

Last update for Cuenca: September 15, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $920 in Cuenca versus $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 763% higher in Cuenca, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Cuenca versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $311 vs $295 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Cuenca vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Cuenca and in Ubud, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,730 in Cuenca, $1,368 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 26% apart. Cuenca costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Cuenca compared to Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,595 per month in Cuenca and $2,052 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Cuenca and Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Cuenca and Ubud, Bali?
Kindergarten costs $352 per month in Cuenca and $481 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 5% more in Cuenca, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,368, than in Cuenca at $1,730. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cuenca it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Cuenca and Ubud, Bali?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,368 in Ubud, Bali to $1,730 in Cuenca. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Cuenca or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Cuenca and Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cuenca makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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