Cost of Living Comparison Between Elgin, IL and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Elgin, IL and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,049 in Elgin, IL versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,589 in Elgin, IL versus $2,327 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,129 in Elgin, IL versus $3,275 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Elgin, IL costs roughly 24% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Elgin, IL is 24% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.61 $19.61

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

488.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.6 $60.6

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

69.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.05 $10.05

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

78.51%

Cappuccino

$4.01 $4.01

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

42.20%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

74.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

147.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.02 $6.02

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

98.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

15.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

-45.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.63 $3.63

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

59.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

317.09%

Eggs

$3.92 $3.92

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

80.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.21 $11.21

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

-36.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.42 $13.42

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

231.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.00 $12.00

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

-1.48%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

22.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

-18.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 $2.59

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

12.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.20 $4.20

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

114.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

4.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.00 $2.00

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

-15.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

73.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$0.54 Rp 9,560

337.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.80 $10.80

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

369.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.56 $15.56

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

-32.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

15.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

17.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.03 $4.03

$0.49 Rp 8,631

722.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.47 Rp 8,349

312.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.49 $28.49

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

408.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

23.46%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

41.02%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

-19.35%

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

$101 $101

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

22.26%

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

$53.5 $53.5

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

723.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.20 $49.20

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

161.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

Cinema Ticket

$14.94 $14.94

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

247.44%

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

$1,716 $1,716

$494 Rp 8.7M

247.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

297.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.21 $40.21

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

-13.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.96 $49.96

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

37.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

26.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 $120

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

52.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,240 $2,240

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

-38.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,778 $1,778

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

3.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,256 $2,256

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

-18.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,218 $2,218

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

-3.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,947 $3,947

$167 Rp 2.9M

2262.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.26

13.78

-54.57%

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

Last update for Elgin, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Elgin, IL pays 2262% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $61.0 in Elgin, IL vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $294 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

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

Elgin, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 2262% higher in Elgin, IL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $1,716 in Elgin, IL versus $494 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Elgin, IL – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,049 in Elgin, IL versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Elgin, IL but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Elgin, IL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Elgin, IL is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Elgin, IL 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.

Expats usually find Elgin, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.