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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,083 per month in Durban vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,560 per month in Durban vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,037 per month in Durban vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Durban is about 23% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Durban sits 19% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.52 R 124

$3.45 Rp 62.1K

117.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.22 R 466

$32.34 Rp 581.1K

-12.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.94 R 81.6

$4.84 Rp 87.1K

2.07%

Cappuccino

$1.90 R 31.28

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

-30.91%

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

$0.90 R 14.81

$1.38 Rp 24.9K

-34.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 R 11.00

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

-10.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.97 R 32.54

$2.99 Rp 53.8K

-34.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 R 37.29

$3.85 Rp 69.2K

-41.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 R 17.30

$1.74 Rp 31.2K

-39.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 R 15.88

$2.46 Rp 44.2K

-60.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 R 23.75

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

23.08%

Eggs

$2.09 R 34.55

$2.43 Rp 43.7K

-13.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 R 124

$14.50 Rp 260.6K

-48.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 R 74.6

$4.35 Rp 78.2K

3.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.16 R 102

$11.98 Rp 215.3K

-48.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.56 R 25.68

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

-58.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 R 23.12

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

-14.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 R 22.00

$2.74 Rp 49.3K

-51.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.31 R 21.66

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

-41.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.31 R 21.60

$1.92 Rp 34.5K

-31.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 R 20.21

$2.28 Rp 40.9K

-46.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 R 16.03

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

-8.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 R 15.85

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 R 49.59

$3.29 Rp 59.0K

-8.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.75 R 78.5

$23.19 Rp 416.8K

-79.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 R 22.94

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

-50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 R 28.80

$2.73 Rp 49.1K

-36.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.51 R 24.92

$0.27 Rp 4,786

459.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.64 R 638

$8.11 Rp 145.7K

376.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 R 27.90

$0.48 Rp 8,675

252.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 R 9.62

$0.42 Rp 7,545

38.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.78 R 112

$6.22 Rp 111.8K

9.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 R 21.76

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

62.96%

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

$20.5K R 339.0K

$26.6K Rp 478.2M

-22.82%

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

$24.1K R 397.6K

$32.2K Rp 578.5M

-25.16%

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

$146 R 2,403

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

85.81%

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

$29.42 R 486

$4.07 Rp 73.1K

622.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.24 R 565

$24.33 Rp 437.1K

40.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.69 R 556

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

-65.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.42 R 155

$6.34 Rp 113.9K

48.58%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 R 114

$3.99 Rp 71.6K

72.43%

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

$205 R 3,383

$305 Rp 5.5M

-32.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,576 R 75.5K

$6,642 Rp 119.4M

-31.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.95 R 692

$54.1 Rp 972.9K

-22.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.69 R 490

$37.81 Rp 679.4K

-21.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.4 R 1,592

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

11.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.5 R 1,180

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

-6.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$377 R 6,230

$992 Rp 17.8M

-61.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$364 R 6,009

$673 Rp 12.1M

-45.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$759 R 12.5K

$3,375 Rp 60.7M

-77.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$588 R 9,702

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

-71.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$898 R 14.8K

$2,805 Rp 50.4M

-67.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$597 R 9,849

$2,227 Rp 40.0M

-73.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,247 R 20.6K

$167 Rp 3.0M

646.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.01

13.28

-9.56%

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

Last update for Durban: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $377 in Durban 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 647% higher in Durban, 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 $28.00 in Durban versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $168 vs $297 – making Durban 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

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

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 30%, 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 $1,625 per month in Durban 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 Durban, 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 $1,083 in Durban 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 376% less in Durban. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Durban, where all-in costs run around $1,083, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Durban it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Durban – 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 Durban. 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.