🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $822 in Cuiaba versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,245 in Cuiaba versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,668 in Cuiaba versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Cuiaba costs roughly 42% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cuiaba is 38% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cuiaba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.54R$18.08
$3.45Rp 62.0K
2.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.72R$90.6
$32.34Rp 580.1K
-45.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.29R$32.13
$4.84Rp 86.9K
29.96%
Cappuccino
$1.53R$7.84
$2.75Rp 49.3K
-44.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93R$4.76
$1.38Rp 24.8K
-32.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62R$3.17
$0.75Rp 13.5K
-17.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.23R$6.29
$2.99Rp 53.7K
-58.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14R$10.95
$3.85Rp 69.1K
-44.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cuiaba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02R$5.21
$1.74Rp 31.1K
-41.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52R$7.77
$2.46Rp 44.1K
-38.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73R$8.84
$1.17Rp 21.0K
47.86%
Eggs
$3.23R$16.53
$2.43Rp 43.6K
32.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.28R$57.6
$14.50Rp 260.2K
-22.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.29R$21.93
$4.35Rp 78.0K
-1.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.18R$52.0
$11.98Rp 214.9K
-15.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.07R$10.60
$3.72Rp 66.7K
-44.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77R$9.07
$1.63Rp 29.2K
8.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75R$8.95
$2.74Rp 49.2K
-36.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36R$12.05
$2.24Rp 40.2K
5.36%
Potato(1kg)
$2.07R$10.57
$1.92Rp 34.4K
7.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54R$7.86
$2.28Rp 40.8K
-32.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71R$3.62
$1.06Rp 19.1K
-33.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24R$6.33
$0.72Rp 12.9K
72.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17R$11.07
$3.29Rp 58.9K
-34.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.92R$50.7
$23.19Rp 416.1K
-57.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76R$9.01
$2.78Rp 49.8K
-36.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19R$11.22
$2.73Rp 49.0K
-19.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Cuiaba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93R$4.77
$0.27Rp 4,778
244.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$37.98R$194
$8.11Rp 145.4K
368.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.06R$5.42
$0.48Rp 8,659
120.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.72R$3.68
$0.42Rp 7,532
71.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.34R$32.40
$6.22Rp 111.6K
1.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.06R$5.42
$0.81Rp 14.6K
30.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KR$106.5K
$26.6KRp 477.4M
-21.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8KR$142.3K
$32.2KRp 577.4M
-13.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuiaba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$61.1R$312
$78.4Rp 1.4M
-22.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.59R$95.0
$4.07Rp 73.0K
356.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.88R$122
$24.33Rp 436.4K
-1.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cuiaba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.89R$117
$98.6Rp 1.8M
-76.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.68R$101
$6.34Rp 113.7K
210.41%
Cinema Ticket
$4.56R$23.31
$3.99Rp 71.5K
14.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cuiaba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$246R$1,259
$305Rp 5.5M
-19.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,128R$26.2K
$6,642Rp 119.2M
-22.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cuiaba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.0R$256
$54.1Rp 971.2K
-7.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.17R$226
$37.81Rp 678.2K
16.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136R$694
$86.8Rp 1.6M
56.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.9R$317
$76.4Rp 1.4M
-18.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cuiaba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$279R$1,426
$992Rp 17.8M
-71.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$190R$972
$673Rp 12.1M
-71.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$566R$2,893
$3,375Rp 60.5M
-83.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$313R$1,597
$2,050Rp 36.8M
-84.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,278R$6,533
$2,805Rp 50.3M
-54.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$765R$3,911
$2,227Rp 39.9M
-65.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cuiaba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$423R$2,160
$167Rp 3.0M
153.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
18.5
13.28
39.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cuiaba: July 13, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $279 in Cuiaba and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cuiaba pays 153% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $18.00 in Cuiaba vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $297 per month, with Cuiaba 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
Cuiaba vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cuiaba or Ubud, Bali?
Cuiaba wins on cost – living expenses run 71% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cuiaba the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Cuiaba or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 153% higher in Cuiaba, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Cuiaba compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $279 in Cuiaba versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Cuiaba and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Cuiaba – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Cuiaba compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $822 per month in Cuiaba versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Cuiaba or in Ubud, Bali?
At $822 in Cuiaba versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cuiaba but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Cuiaba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cuiaba or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Cuiaba delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $822 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cuiaba hard to pass up.
How safe is Cuiaba compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Cuiaba 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 Cuiaba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.