Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Moines, IA and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Moines, IA and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,172 in Des Moines, IA versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,288 in Des Moines, IA versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,404 in Des Moines, IA versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Des Moines, IA is roughly 59% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Des Moines, IA 59% above, Ubud, Bali 0% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.90 $19.90

$3.44 Rp 61.0K

478.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.1 $81.1

$36.31 Rp 644.0K

123.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.21 $12.21

$5.71 Rp 101.2K

113.84%

Cappuccino

$5.98 $5.98

$2.67 Rp 47.4K

123.97%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

74.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$0.87 Rp 15.5K

194.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.04 $5.04

$2.95 Rp 52.4K

70.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.66 $5.66

$4.52 Rp 80.1K

25.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

-43.83%

White Bread (500g)

$2.90 $2.90

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

24.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

192.79%

Eggs

$3.98 $3.98

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

80.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.35 $9.35

$17.69 Rp 313.8K

-47.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.44 $9.44

$4.10 Rp 72.7K

130.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.77 $13.77

$12.18 Rp 216.0K

13.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$3.71 Rp 65.7K

16.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.59 Rp 28.2K

-4.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$2.28 Rp 40.5K

93.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.65 $3.65

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

87.18%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$1.91 Rp 33.8K

64.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

-5.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

138.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$0.55 Rp 9,788

296.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.86 $7.86

$2.23 Rp 39.6K

252.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$23.07 Rp 409.2K

-34.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.42 Rp 42.9K

-30.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$3.00 Rp 53.1K

-1.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.77 $1.77

$0.27 Rp 4,821

555.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.0 $59.0

$8.98 Rp 159.3K

556.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.48 Rp 8,580

312.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.43 Rp 7,691

183.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.89 $19.89

$5.64 Rp 100.1K

252.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

17.50%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.6K $35.6K

$24.9K Rp 442.4M

42.73%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.9K $24.9K

$31.7K Rp 562.4M

-21.62%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$189 $189

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

131.40%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$52.0 $52.0

$6.49 Rp 115.2K

701.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.0 $70.0

$18.77 Rp 332.9K

273.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.7 $63.7

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

11.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.91 $19.91

$18.73 Rp 332.2K

6.30%

Cinema Ticket

$15.14 $15.14

$4.54 Rp 80.5K

233.48%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,178 $1,178

$481 Rp 8.5M

145.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K $11.8K

$5,711 Rp 101.3M

106.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.7 $60.7

$45.52 Rp 807.3K

33.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.97 $42.97

$35.88 Rp 636.4K

19.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

25.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

85.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,182 $1,182

$1,115 Rp 19.8M

6.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$869 $869

$698 Rp 12.4M

24.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,746 $1,746

$3,637 Rp 64.5M

-51.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

-17.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,294 $2,294

$2,784 Rp 49.4M

-17.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 $2,290

$2,290 Rp 40.6M

0.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,920 $3,920

$168 Rp 3.0M

2233.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.03

13.78

-56.24%

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

Last update for Des Moines, IA: September 12, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,182 in Des Moines, IA and $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Des Moines, IA pays 2233% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $81.0 in Des Moines, IA vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $344 vs $295 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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

Des Moines, IA vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 59% lower than in Des Moines, IA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 2233% higher in Des Moines, IA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,182 in Des Moines, IA versus $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $81.0 in Des Moines, IA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,172 per month in Des Moines, IA versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,172 in Des Moines, IA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Des Moines, IA. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,368 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Des Moines, IA 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.

Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Des Moines, IA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.