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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,318 in El Cerrito, CA versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,061 in El Cerrito, CA versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,804 in El Cerrito, CA versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in El Cerrito, CA is roughly 134% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: El Cerrito, CA 148% above, Ubud, Bali 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Cerrito, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.58 $20.58
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
478.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
210.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.24 $15.24
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
207.88%
Cappuccino
$5.81 $5.81
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
114.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 $3.22
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
140.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
237.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.14 $8.14
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
178.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.80 $7.80
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
96.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Cerrito, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
-19.89%
White Bread (500g)
$4.83 $4.83
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
91.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.27 $3.27
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
181.90%
Eggs
$4.98 $4.98
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
102.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.44 $23.44
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
59.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.69 $15.69
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
263.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.97 $23.97
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
97.45%
Apples (1kg)
$7.35 $7.35
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
91.41%
Banana (1kg)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
60.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.26 $5.26
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
85.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.48 $6.48
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
178.11%
Potato (1kg)
$3.74 $3.74
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
95.81%
Onion (1kg)
$3.87 $3.87
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
75.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.89 $2.89
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
186.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 $2.75
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
252.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.03 $11.03
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
232.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.35 $15.35
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-35.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
-19.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 $3.32
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
16.08%
🚌 Getting Around
El Cerrito, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.62 $3.62
$0.27 Rp 4,800
1240.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$81.1 $81.1
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
910.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 $3.54
$0.46 Rp 8,150
669.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 $1.84
$0.45 Rp 8,037
308.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.91 $29.91
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
390.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 $1.28
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
62.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K $29.5K
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
12.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
-20.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Cerrito, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$296 $296
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
269.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.6 $55.6
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
1270.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.6 $68.6
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
191.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Cerrito, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.63 $42.63
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-56.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.27 $15.27
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
267.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Cerrito, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,196 $2,196
$304 Rp 5.4M
622.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.8K $25.8K
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
290.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Cerrito, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
-4.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.04 $45.04
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
17.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.4 $89.4
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
0.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 $135
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
73.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Cerrito, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,921 $1,921
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
90.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,720 $1,720
$675 Rp 12.1M
154.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,197 $3,197
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-7.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,109 $3,109
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
52.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,672 $2,672
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
-5.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,127 $2,127
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
-6.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Cerrito, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,307 $6,307
$165 Rp 3.0M
3716.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
13.28
-52.11%

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

Last update for El Cerrito, CA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,921 in El Cerrito, CA and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

El Cerrito, CA pays 3717% 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: $102 in El Cerrito, CA vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $534 vs $302 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
El Cerrito, CA vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, El Cerrito, CA or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 134% lower than in El Cerrito, CA. 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 El Cerrito, CA or Ubud, Bali?
El Cerrito, CA pays 3717% more on average, 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 El Cerrito, CA vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,921 in El Cerrito, CA versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in El Cerrito, CA vs Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $102 in El Cerrito, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in El Cerrito, CA compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $3,318 per month in El Cerrito, CA versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – a 134% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in El Cerrito, CA or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,318 in El Cerrito, CA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in El Cerrito, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, El Cerrito, CA or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,419 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is El Cerrito, CA compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, El Cerrito, CA 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 134% less than in El Cerrito, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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