Cost of Living Comparison Between El Nido and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between El Nido and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $806 per month in El Nido vs $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,292 per month in El Nido vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,778 per month in El Nido vs $3,732 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

El Nido is about 44% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

El Nido sits 40% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 ₱318

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

44.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.02 ₱1,851

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

-7.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.10 ₱253

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

-19.13%

Cappuccino

$3.81 ₱235

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

34.63%

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

$1.36 ₱84.1

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

1.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ₱22.47

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

-47.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 ₱83.2

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

-54.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱132

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

-44.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

9.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱78.7

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

-49.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 ₱108

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

47.06%

Eggs

$2.49 ₱154

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

2.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.08 ₱499

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

-44.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.31 ₱204

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

-20.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

-30.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.96 ₱183

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

-19.78%

Banana (1kg)

$0.68 ₱41.99

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

-57.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ₱167

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

0.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

-7.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 ₱138

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

16.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

-5.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₱69.1

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

5.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱47.19

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

6.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.82 ₱174

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

-9.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.07 ₱498

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

-65.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₱70.9

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

-58.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱125

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

-29.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 ₱20.67

$0.29 Rp 5,029

17.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.0

$0.45 Rp 7,863

80.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.82

$0.42 Rp 7,305

-42.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.12 ₱131

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

-65.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 ₱64.2

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

23.81%

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

$26.9K ₱1.7M

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

2.69%

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

$20.8K ₱1.3M

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

-36.10%

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

$112 ₱6,935

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

43.38%

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

$32.73 ₱2,019

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

728.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.85 ₱1,965

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

30.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.23 ₱2,111

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

-64.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.39 ₱271

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

-30.87%

Cinema Ticket

$6.10 ₱376

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

50.99%

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

$151 ₱9,298

$303 Rp 5.2M

-50.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,250 ₱262.1K

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

-34.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.13 ₱2,784

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

-16.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.20 ₱1,616

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

-31.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.8 ₱4,736

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

-11.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.6 ₱3,243

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

-33.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$267 ₱16.5K

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

-73.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 ₱11.0K

$674 Rp 11.7M

-73.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 ₱35.9K

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

-82.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$387 ₱23.9K

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

-81.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,647 ₱163.3K

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

-11.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$263 ₱16.2K

$173 Rp 3.0M

52.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

13.28

-49.77%

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

Last update for El Nido: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $267 in El Nido versus $1,012 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 52% higher in El Nido, 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 $30.00 in El Nido versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $298 – making El Nido 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 Nido vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $806 in El Nido, $1,438 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 78% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,209 per month in El Nido and $2,158 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in El Nido, 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 $806 in El Nido and $1,438 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $151 per month in El Nido and $303 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in El Nido, where all-in costs run around $806, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In El Nido it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali 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 $806 in El Nido to $1,438 in Ubud, Bali. 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 El Nido. 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.