Cost of Living Comparison Between El Centro, CA and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between El Centro, CA and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,556 per month in El Centro, CA vs $1,397 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,631 per month in El Centro, CA vs $2,588 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,706 per month in El Centro, CA vs $3,778 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

El Centro, CA costs about 83% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both El Centro, CA and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – El Centro, CA by 91%, Ubud, Bali by 5%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.98 $11.98

$3.43 Rp 61.6K

249.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.93 $39.93

$31.97 Rp 574.4K

24.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.20 $15.20

$5.05 Rp 90.8K

200.99%

Cappuccino

$4.05 $4.05

$2.71 Rp 48.8K

49.45%

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

$1.97 $1.97

$1.39 Rp 25.0K

41.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.74 Rp 13.3K

162.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.89 Rp 52.0K

5.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.80 $6.80

$3.79 Rp 68.1K

79.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.79 Rp 32.2K

-35.20%

White Bread (500g)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.51 Rp 45.0K

70.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$1.21 Rp 21.8K

283.47%

Eggs

$3.70 $3.70

$2.37 Rp 42.5K

56.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.42 $12.42

$14.43 Rp 259.3K

-13.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.12 $16.12

$4.15 Rp 74.6K

288.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.39 $15.39

$12.11 Rp 217.7K

27.09%

Apples (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.77 Rp 67.7K

16.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

6.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.24 $5.24

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

93.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.49 $5.49

$2.26 Rp 40.5K

142.92%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$1.93 Rp 34.6K

65.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.19 Rp 39.4K

31.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.02 Rp 18.3K

98.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

191.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.14 $11.14

$3.18 Rp 57.2K

250.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.24 $15.24

$23.84 Rp 428.3K

-36.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.77 Rp 49.8K

-29.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

30.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.27 Rp 4,802

618.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.20 Rp 147.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.68 $6.68

$0.48 Rp 8,684

1291.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.77 $2.77

$0.42 Rp 7,571

559.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.13 $29.13

$6.03 Rp 108.3K

383.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 $1.31

$0.82 Rp 14.7K

59.76%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.6K Rp 477.3M

-2.44%

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

$29.3K $29.3K

$32.2K Rp 578.6M

-9.10%

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

$160 $160

$78.3 Rp 1.4M

104.92%

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

$54.2 $54.2

$3.91 Rp 70.3K

1285.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.5 $59.5

$23.91 Rp 429.7K

148.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.26 $42.26

$96.2 Rp 1.7M

-56.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.53 Rp 117.3K

Cinema Ticket

$15.31 $15.31

$4.01 Rp 72.1K

281.80%

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

$1,510 $1,510

$303 Rp 5.4M

399.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$6,551 Rp 117.7M

252.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.35 $48.35

$55.3 Rp 993.9K

-12.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.86 $33.86

$38.32 Rp 688.6K

-11.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$88.5 Rp 1.6M

13.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

34.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,625 $1,625

$986 Rp 17.7M

64.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,334 $1,334

$682 Rp 12.3M

95.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,585 $2,585

$3,420 Rp 61.5M

-24.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,197 $2,197

$2,075 Rp 37.3M

5.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,366 $2,366

$2,762 Rp 49.6M

-14.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,072 $2,072

$2,243 Rp 40.3M

-7.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.64

13.28

-50.00%

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

Last update for El Centro, CA: July 22, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,625 in El Centro, CA versus $986 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in El Centro, CA versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $429 vs $298 – making Ubud, Bali 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

El Centro, CA vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,556 in El Centro, CA, $1,397 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 83% apart. El Centro, CA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,833 per month in El Centro, CA and $2,096 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, 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 $2,556 in El Centro, CA and $1,397 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,510 per month in El Centro, CA and $303 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,397, than in El Centro, CA at $2,556. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in El Centro, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,397 in Ubud, Bali to $2,556 in El Centro, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, El Centro, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.