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 $1,473 per month in Cuenca vs $1,394 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,088 per month in Cuenca vs $2,551 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,702 per month in Cuenca vs $3,708 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Cuenca costs about 6% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Cuenca and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Cuenca by 11%, Ubud, Bali by 5%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cuenca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.99 €14.63
$3.40 Rp 60.2K
399.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.08 €39.68
$32.38 Rp 573.6K
42.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.20 €7.93
$5.00 Rp 88.6K
84.00%
Cappuccino
$2.20 €1.90
$2.82 Rp 50.0K
-21.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 €1.76
$1.38 Rp 24.4K
48.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.36
$0.73 Rp 13.0K
116.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.25 €1.94
$2.98 Rp 52.8K
-24.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 €2.94
$3.97 Rp 70.3K
-14.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cuenca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 €0.88
$1.79 Rp 31.8K
-43.02%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 €1.23
$2.46 Rp 43.7K
-41.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.43 €1.23
$1.20 Rp 21.2K
19.17%
Eggs
$2.59 €2.23
$2.39 Rp 42.3K
8.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.30 €14.04
$14.40 Rp 255.1K
13.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.65 €8.31
$4.28 Rp 75.9K
125.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.08 €12.13
$11.82 Rp 209.4K
19.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.84 €2.45
$3.78 Rp 67.0K
-24.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 €1.31
$1.63 Rp 28.9K
-6.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.57 €1.35
$2.80 Rp 49.6K
-43.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.27 €2.82
$2.26 Rp 40.0K
44.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.75 €1.50
$2.00 Rp 35.3K
-12.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.95 €1.68
$2.21 Rp 39.2K
-11.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.07 Rp 18.9K
28.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 €0.97
$0.76 Rp 13.5K
47.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.80 €5.00
$3.13 Rp 55.4K
85.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.59 €3.95
$23.81 Rp 421.9K
-80.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 €1.02
$2.84 Rp 50.3K
-58.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 €1.47
$2.78 Rp 49.2K
-38.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Cuenca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.26 €1.08
$0.27 Rp 4,726
366.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.22 €29.47
$8.37 Rp 148.2K
308.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.71 €4.06
$0.45 Rp 8,034
946.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 €0.89
$0.43 Rp 7,578
141.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.17 €25.12
$5.98 Rp 105.9K
387.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.80 €1.55
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
125.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.2K €33.7K
$25.8K Rp 457.2M
51.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K €26.3K
$31.8K Rp 563.4M
-3.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuenca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$134 €116
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
66.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.16 €16.50
$4.14 Rp 73.3K
362.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.62 €23.78
$24.12 Rp 427.2K
14.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cuenca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.32 €39.89
$97.8 Rp 1.7M
-52.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.56 €12.54
$6.64 Rp 117.7K
119.28%
Cinema Ticket
$8.53 €7.34
$4.04 Rp 71.5K
111.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cuenca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$348 €300
$297 Rp 5.3M
17.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,868 €8,498
$6,590 Rp 116.7M
49.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cuenca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.1 €61.3
$55.1 Rp 976.8K
29.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 €34.49
$38.51 Rp 682.1K
4.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.4 €85.6
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
15.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 €98.1
$78.0 Rp 1.4M
46.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cuenca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$705 €607
$985 Rp 17.5M
-28.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$520 €447
$665 Rp 11.8M
-21.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$815 €702
$3,446 Rp 61.0M
-76.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$641 €552
$2,042 Rp 36.2M
-68.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,488 €3,004
$2,829 Rp 50.1M
23.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,286 €1,968
$2,282 Rp 40.4M
0.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cuenca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,459 €1,256
$169 Rp 3.0M
762.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.62
13.28
-72.74%

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

Last update for Cuenca: June 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $705 in Cuenca versus $985 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 762% 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 $46.00 in Cuenca versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $273 in Cuenca vs $299 in Ubud, Bali – so Cuenca wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Ubud, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,473 in Cuenca, $1,394 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 6% 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 $2,210 per month in Cuenca and $2,091 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 $348 per month in Cuenca and $297 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?
Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Cuenca – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
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 $1,394, than in Cuenca at $1,473. 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 $1,394 in Ubud, Bali to $1,473 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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