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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,256 in Dorchester versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,323 in Dorchester versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,390 in Dorchester versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Dorchester is roughly 60% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Dorchester 69% above, Ubud, Bali 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dorchester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.31 £12.14
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
372.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.4 £61.4
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
154.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.38 £4.00
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
11.16%
Cappuccino
$4.84 £3.60
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
76.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 £2.10
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
104.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 £1.29
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
132.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.84 £5.83
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
162.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.85 £5.10
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
77.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dorchester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 £1.22
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
-5.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.35 £1.00
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
-45.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.83 £1.36
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
56.41%
Eggs
$4.19 £3.12
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
72.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.39 £9.23
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
-14.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.14 £6.81
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
110.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.78 £8.77
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
-1.67%
Apples (1kg)
$3.04 £2.27
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
-18.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 £1.22
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
0.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.67 £1.99
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
-2.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.15 £3.09
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
85.27%
Potato (1kg)
$2.01 £1.49
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
4.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 £1.37
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
-18.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.78 £0.58
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
-26.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 £1.31
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
144.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$20.96 £15.60
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
537.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.57 £7.87
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
-54.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.97 £2.21
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
6.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 £2.12
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
4.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Dorchester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.27 £2.43
$0.27 Rp 4,786
1111.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.5 £65.9
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
990.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.40 £4.02
$0.48 Rp 8,675
1025.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.67 £1.24
$0.42 Rp 7,545
297.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.24 £20.28
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
337.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 £1.40
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
130.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.3K £28.5K
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
44.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9K £26.7K
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
11.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dorchester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$230 £171
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
193.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.88 £12.57
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
314.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.80 £33.35
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
84.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dorchester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.96 £33.48
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-54.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.41 £9.98
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
236.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dorchester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,215 £1,649
$305 Rp 5.5M
626.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.2K £18.0K
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
264.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dorchester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.4 £44.98
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
11.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.17 £36.60
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
30.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 £84.4
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
30.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 £104
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
82.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dorchester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,242 £925
$992 Rp 17.8M
25.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$985 £733
$673 Rp 12.1M
46.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,007 £1,494
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
-40.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,702 £1,267
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
-16.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,355 £3,986
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
90.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dorchester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,832 £1,364
$167 Rp 3.0M
997.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.6
13.28
-57.83%

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

Last update for Dorchester: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,242 in Dorchester and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dorchester pays 997% 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: $82.0 in Dorchester vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $304 vs $297 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
Dorchester vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dorchester or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 60% lower than in Dorchester. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Dorchester or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 997% higher in Dorchester, 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 Dorchester compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,242 in Dorchester versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Dorchester or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Dorchester. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Dorchester and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $82.0 in Dorchester. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Dorchester or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,256 in Dorchester, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Dorchester. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Dorchester or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,408 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Dorchester compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Dorchester 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 Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Dorchester. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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