Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dien Bien Phu and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Dien Bien Phu: $770 a month against $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $7,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Dien Bien Phu
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$770
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dien Bien Phu 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 Dien Bien Phu and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $770 in Dien Bien Phu versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Dien Bien Phu $770
  • Ubud, Bali $1,368

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,231 in Dien Bien Phu versus $2,314 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Dien Bien Phu $1,231
  • Ubud, Bali $2,314

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,692 in Dien Bien Phu versus $3,260 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Dien Bien Phu $1,692
  • Ubud, Bali $3,260

Living in Dien Bien Phu costs roughly 44% less than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Dien Bien Phu is 43% below, Ubud, Bali is 1% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dien Bien Phu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ₫52.6K
$3.33 Rp 59.9K
-39.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.34 ₫500.7K
$35.18 Rp 633.2K
-45.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.39 ₫113.6K
$5.80 Rp 104.5K
-24.31%
Cappuccino
$1.64 ₫42.5K
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
-39.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ₫13.1K
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
-68.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₫8,660
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
-60.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.88 ₫22.7K
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
-67.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 ₫37.0K
$4.30 Rp 77.4K
-66.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dien Bien Phu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 ₫38.5K
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
-0.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.05 ₫27.2K
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
-54.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.94 ₫24.3K
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
-20.34%
Eggs
$1.51 ₫39.0K
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
-29.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.24 ₫291.0K
$17.48 Rp 314.6K
-35.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.73 ₫96.6K
$4.03 Rp 72.5K
-7.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.86 ₫255.2K
$12.23 Rp 220.1K
-19.38%
Apples (1kg)
$3.06 ₫79.3K
$3.55 Rp 63.9K
-13.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.12 ₫29.0K
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
-28.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.33 ₫34.5K
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
-40.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.27 ₫32.9K
$1.93 Rp 34.7K
-34.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.07 ₫27.7K
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
-43.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 ₫29.7K
$2.29 Rp 41.3K
-49.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 ₫16.8K
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
-34.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ₫13.1K
$0.53 Rp 9,475
-5.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.36 ₫35.2K
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
-40.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.16 ₫314.8K
$23.01 Rp 414.2K
-47.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 ₫22.9K
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
-62.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 ₫42.5K
$2.91 Rp 52.4K
-43.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Dien Bien Phu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 ₫8,151
$0.24 Rp 4,315
29.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.45 ₫167.1K
$8.82 Rp 158.7K
-26.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.73 ₫18.8K
$0.48 Rp 8,684
52.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.61 ₫15.7K
$0.46 Rp 8,233
32.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.39 ₫62.0K
$5.45 Rp 98.2K
-56.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 ₫24.7K
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
7.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K ₫786.3M
$24.6K Rp 442.2M
23.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4K ₫786.0M
$31.2K Rp 561.4M
-2.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dien Bien Phu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.2 ₫2.0M
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
-7.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.79 ₫149.9K
$6.45 Rp 116.0K
-10.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.56 ₫221.6K
$18.57 Rp 334.2K
-53.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dien Bien Phu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.91 ₫567.2K
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
-60.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.83 ₫202.6K
$18.11 Rp 326.0K
-56.76%
Cinema Ticket
$3.06 ₫79.3K
$4.38 Rp 78.9K
-30.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dien Bien Phu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$159 ₫4.1M
$493 Rp 8.9M
-67.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.4K ₫320.6M
$5,754 Rp 103.6M
115.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dien Bien Phu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.80 ₫1.2M
$46.19 Rp 831.4K
-0.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.91 ₫670.9K
$35.33 Rp 636.0K
-26.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.3 ₫2.2M
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
5.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.7 ₫2.1M
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
1.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dien Bien Phu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$413 ₫10.7M
$1,142 Rp 20.6M
-63.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$276 ₫7.2M
$676 Rp 12.2M
-59.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$737 ₫19.1M
$3,503 Rp 63.1M
-78.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$607 ₫15.7M
$1,700 Rp 30.6M
-64.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,783 ₫72.0M
$2,784 Rp 50.1M
-0.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,324 ₫34.3M
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
-40.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dien Bien Phu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$165 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.46
13.78
-38.61%

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

Last update for Dien Bien Phu: October 11, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Dien Bien Phu
$276
Ubud, Bali
$676 145% $399
Groceries & Markets
Dien Bien Phu
$197
Ubud, Bali
$290 47.4% $93
Clothing & Footwear
Dien Bien Phu
$106
Ubud, Bali
$108 1.9% $2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dien Bien Phu
$92
Ubud, Bali
$108 18% $16
Eating Out
Dien Bien Phu
$60
Ubud, Bali
$109 82.2% $49
Sport & Entertainment
Dien Bien Phu
$28
Ubud, Bali
$65 130% $37
Getting Around
Dien Bien Phu
$11
Ubud, Bali
$13 9.4% $1.1

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $413 in Dien Bien Phu and $1,142 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Dien Bien Phu vs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $290 per month, with Dien Bien Phu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇻🇳 Dien Bien Phu
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
05:34 5:34 AM
06:34 6:34 AM
1 h ahead of Dien Bien Phu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
80,366
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to VND – Vietnamese Dong Converter

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 25,889 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 29,105 VND (100,000 VND = 3.44 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Dien Bien Phu Ubud, Bali 3,580 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Dien Bien Phu
  • 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
Dien Bien Phu vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Dien Bien Phu?
Dien Bien Phu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 78% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,154 in Dien Bien Phu and $2,051 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Dien Bien Phu and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $413 in Dien Bien Phu versus $1,142 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Dien Bien Phu or in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Dien Bien Phu – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Dien Bien Phu and in Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $770 per month in Dien Bien Phu versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali – a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Dien Bien Phu or in Ubud, Bali?
At $770 in Dien Bien Phu versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dien Bien Phu but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Dien Bien Phu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Dien Bien Phu or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Dien Bien Phu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Dien Bien Phu or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Dien Bien Phu 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Dien Bien Phu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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