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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $396 per month in Dharamsala vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $579 per month in Dharamsala vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $763 per month in Dharamsala vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Dharamsala is about 72% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Dharamsala sits 70% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.59 ₹249

$3.45 Rp 62.1K

-24.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.48 ₹1,107

$32.34 Rp 581.1K

-64.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.51 ₹338

$4.84 Rp 87.1K

-27.48%

Cappuccino

$1.52 ₹146

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

-44.73%

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

$0.36 ₹35.00

$1.38 Rp 24.9K

-73.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 ₹16.52

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

-77.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.65 ₹160

$2.99 Rp 53.8K

-44.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 ₹269

$3.85 Rp 69.2K

-27.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.73 ₹70.7

$1.74 Rp 31.2K

-58.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 ₹52.3

$2.46 Rp 44.2K

-78.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.89 ₹85.6

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

-23.93%

Eggs

$1.05 ₹101

$2.43 Rp 43.7K

-56.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.57 ₹538

$14.50 Rp 260.6K

-61.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.14 ₹206

$4.35 Rp 78.2K

-50.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 215.3K

Apples (1kg)

$1.60 ₹154

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

-56.99%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 ₹71.9

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

-53.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.95 ₹91.4

$2.74 Rp 49.3K

-65.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 ₹55.2

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

-74.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.22 ₹21.10

$1.92 Rp 34.5K

-88.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 ₹46.85

$2.28 Rp 40.9K

-78.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.43 ₹40.99

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

-59.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₹33.38

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

-51.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ₹397

$3.29 Rp 59.0K

25.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.09 ₹298

$23.19 Rp 416.8K

-86.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₹161

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

-39.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 ₹267

$2.73 Rp 49.1K

1.47%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$5.07 ₹489

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ₹29.01

$0.27 Rp 4,786

11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.47 ₹817

$8.11 Rp 145.7K

4.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₹80.2

$0.48 Rp 8,675

72.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₹21.13

$0.42 Rp 7,545

-47.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₹113

$6.22 Rp 111.8K

-81.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₹111

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

41.98%

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

$14.6K ₹1.4M

$26.6K Rp 478.2M

-45.15%

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

$29.4K ₹2.8M

$32.2K Rp 578.5M

-8.79%

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

$47.17 ₹4,549

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

-39.80%

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

$2.64 ₹255

$4.07 Rp 73.1K

-35.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$2.84 ₹274

$24.33 Rp 437.1K

-88.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.83 ₹1,430

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

-84.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.85 ₹660

$6.34 Rp 113.9K

8.04%

Cinema Ticket

$2.86 ₹276

$3.99 Rp 71.6K

-28.32%

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

$60.5 ₹5,835

$305 Rp 5.5M

-80.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,968 ₹189.8K

$6,642 Rp 119.4M

-70.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.99 ₹2,410

$54.1 Rp 972.9K

-53.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.39 ₹2,352

$37.81 Rp 679.4K

-35.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.05 ₹4,730

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

-43.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$33.54 ₹3,235

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

-56.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$91.9 ₹8,857

$992 Rp 17.8M

-90.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$90.9 ₹8,766

$673 Rp 12.1M

-86.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$137 ₹13.2K

$3,375 Rp 60.7M

-95.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$113 ₹10.9K

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

-94.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 40.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$205 ₹19.8K

$167 Rp 3.0M

22.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

13.28

-43.52%

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

Last update for Dharamsala: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $91.9 in Dharamsala versus $992 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 23% higher in Dharamsala, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Dharamsala versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $95.0 vs $297 – making Dharamsala 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

Dharamsala vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 256%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $594 per month in Dharamsala and $2,112 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dharamsala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $396 in Dharamsala and $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 4% less in Dharamsala. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dharamsala, where all-in costs run around $396, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Dharamsala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dharamsala – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Dharamsala. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.