Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Plaines, IL and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,348 a month against $3,073 in Des Plaines, IL, rent and utilities included – about $20,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Des Plaines, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,073
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,348
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Des Plaines, IL and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Des Plaines, IL and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,073 in Des Plaines, IL versus $1,348 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Des Plaines, IL $3,073
  • Ubud, Bali $1,348

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,412 in Des Plaines, IL versus $2,312 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Des Plaines, IL $4,412
  • Ubud, Bali $2,312

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,750 in Des Plaines, IL versus $3,276 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Des Plaines, IL $5,750
  • Ubud, Bali $3,276

Living in Des Plaines, IL is roughly 128% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Des Plaines, IL 129% above, Ubud, Bali 1% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Des Plaines, IL
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.88 $20.88
$3.33 Rp 59.6K
527.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.5 $89.5
$35.42 Rp 633.1K
152.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.87 $12.87
$5.76 Rp 102.9K
123.44%
Cappuccino
$5.65 $5.65
$2.63 Rp 47.0K
114.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 $2.59
$1.74 Rp 31.0K
48.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 $2.32
$0.77 Rp 13.8K
201.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.95 $6.95
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
156.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.02 $8.02
$4.52 Rp 80.8K
77.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Des Plaines, IL
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.53 Rp 27.4K
-37.91%
White Bread (500g)
$3.49 $3.49
$2.20 Rp 39.2K
58.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.23 $4.23
$1.22 Rp 21.8K
246.72%
Eggs
$4.16 $4.16
$2.14 Rp 38.2K
94.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.67 $14.67
$17.73 Rp 316.9K
-17.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.02 $13.02
$3.86 Rp 68.9K
237.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.95 $18.95
$12.03 Rp 215.0K
57.52%
Apples (1kg)
$4.75 $4.75
$3.61 Rp 64.5K
31.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.51 Rp 27.1K
7.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.16 $4.16
$2.32 Rp 41.4K
79.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.82 $4.82
$2.00 Rp 35.8K
141.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.66 $2.66
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
46.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.39 Rp 42.7K
14.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.15 $2.15
$0.99 Rp 17.8K
117.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 $2.41
$0.52 Rp 9,373
363.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.65 $10.65
$2.18 Rp 39.0K
388.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.86 $14.86
$22.98 Rp 410.7K
-35.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.40 Rp 42.8K
6.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 $3.53
$3.00 Rp 53.6K
17.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Des Plaines, IL
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 $2.02
$0.24 Rp 4,255
741.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.8 $60.8
$6.99 Rp 125.0K
769.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 $3.17
$0.44 Rp 7,876
620.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$0.42 Rp 7,582
226.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.93 $24.93
$5.45 Rp 97.4K
357.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$0.84 Rp 15.1K
25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9K $35.9K
$24.3K Rp 434.8M
47.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K $24.8K
$31.9K Rp 570.0M
-22.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Des Plaines, IL
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 $195
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
141.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.5 $60.5
$6.58 Rp 117.6K
819.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.2 $77.2
$18.24 Rp 326.1K
323.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Des Plaines, IL
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$125 $125
$55.1 Rp 985.4K
126.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.72 $40.72
$18.51 Rp 330.9K
119.99%
Cinema Ticket
$15.16 $15.16
$4.24 Rp 75.9K
257.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Des Plaines, IL
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,545 $1,545
$486 Rp 8.7M
218.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.5K $23.5K
$5,676 Rp 101.5M
313.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Des Plaines, IL
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.3 $65.3
$45.18 Rp 807.6K
44.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.0 $51.0
$34.57 Rp 617.9K
47.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$79.2 Rp 1.4M
27.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 $123
$77.6 Rp 1.4M
57.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Des Plaines, IL
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,093 $2,093
$1,127 Rp 20.1M
85.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,521 $1,521
$674 Rp 12.1M
125.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,861 $3,861
$3,618 Rp 64.7M
6.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,536 $2,536
$1,735 Rp 31.0M
46.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,174 $3,174
$2,829 Rp 50.6M
12.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,521 $2,521
$2,307 Rp 41.2M
9.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Des Plaines, IL
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,220 $6,220
$166 Rp 3.0M
3654.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.77
13.78
-50.87%

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

Last update for Des Plaines, IL: October 4, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Des Plaines, IL
$1.5K
Ubud, Bali
$674 55.7% $847
Groceries & Markets
Des Plaines, IL
$419
Ubud, Bali
$290 30.7% $129
Eating Out
Des Plaines, IL
$344
Ubud, Bali
$108 68.6% $236
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Des Plaines, IL
$333
Ubud, Bali
$106 68.2% $227
Sport & Entertainment
Des Plaines, IL
$155
Ubud, Bali
$64 59% $91
Clothing & Footwear
Des Plaines, IL
$153
Ubud, Bali
$106 30.3% $46
Getting Around
Des Plaines, IL
$79
Ubud, Bali
$11 86.7% $68

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,093 in Des Plaines, IL and $1,127 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Des Plaines, IL pays 3654% 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: $89.0 in Des Plaines, IL vs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $419 vs $290 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Des Plaines, IL
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
18:06 6:06 PM
07:06 7:06 AM
13 h ahead of Des Plaines, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
60,675
74,800
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 17,875 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.59 USD). 1 EUR = 20,030 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.99 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Des Plaines, IL Ubud, Bali 15,650 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Des Plaines, IL
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Plaines, IL vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Des Plaines, IL and in Ubud, Bali?
Des Plaines, IL and Ubud, Bali differ by about 128% in total monthly costs ($3,073 vs $1,348 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Des Plaines, IL or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 3654% higher in Des Plaines, IL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Des Plaines, IL and in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,093 in Des Plaines, IL versus $1,127 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Des Plaines, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $89.0 in Des Plaines, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,073 in Des Plaines, IL, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Des Plaines, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Des Plaines, IL and Ubud, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Des Plaines, IL or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Des Plaines, IL 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.
Where should expats move: Des Plaines, IL or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 128% less than in Des Plaines, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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