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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Esmeraldas versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,406 in Esmeraldas versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,895 in Esmeraldas versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Esmeraldas costs roughly 35% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Esmeraldas is 32% below, Ubud, Bali is 4% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Esmeraldas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.94 $3.94
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
10.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.43 $32.43
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
-0.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.09 $4.09
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
-15.84%
Cappuccino
$2.92 $2.92
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
6.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 $0.49
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
-62.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 $0.48
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
-31.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
-30.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97 $3.97
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
4.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Esmeraldas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 $0.97
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
-43.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 $1.51
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
-38.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
47.50%
Eggs
$1.46 $1.46
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
-40.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.81 $8.81
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
-38.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.88 $7.88
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
82.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.10 $8.10
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
-33.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 $2.01
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
-45.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
-21.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.03 $1.03
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
-63.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.30 $1.30
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
-44.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
-29.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 $1.09
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
-52.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 $0.48
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
-54.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 $1.01
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
38.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.93 $5.93
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
80.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.87 $7.87
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
-65.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 $1.57
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
-44.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 $2.85
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
2.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Esmeraldas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 $0.34
$0.29 Rp 5,217
17.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.90 $23.90
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
196.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.45 Rp 8,047
231.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.28 $1.28
$0.45 Rp 8,094
184.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.10 $10.10
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
61.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.71 $0.71
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
-16.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.2K $20.2K
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
-22.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
-20.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Esmeraldas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.08 $35.08
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
-56.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.14 $14.14
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
248.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.51 $29.51
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
20.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Esmeraldas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.93 $29.93
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
-69.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.86 $14.86
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
130.39%
Cinema Ticket
$7.20 $7.20
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
78.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Esmeraldas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$272 $272
$304 Rp 5.4M
-10.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,651 $8,651
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
30.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Esmeraldas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.2 $58.2
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
7.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.82 $42.82
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
10.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
18.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.3 $87.3
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
13.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Esmeraldas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$348 $348
$986 Rp 17.7M
-64.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$314 $314
$658 Rp 11.8M
-52.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$622 $622
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
-81.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$508 $508
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
-75.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,080 $1,080
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
-60.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$795 $795
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
-64.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Esmeraldas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$459 $459
$163 Rp 2.9M
180.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.19
13.28
-15.74%

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

Last update for Esmeraldas: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $348 in Esmeraldas and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Esmeraldas pays 181% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Esmeraldas vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $297 per month, with Esmeraldas 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
Esmeraldas vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Esmeraldas?
Esmeraldas is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Esmeraldas or Ubud, Bali?
Esmeraldas pays 181% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Esmeraldas and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $348 in Esmeraldas versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Esmeraldas and Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Esmeraldas or Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Esmeraldas – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Esmeraldas or Ubud, Bali?
At $918 in Esmeraldas versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Esmeraldas but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Esmeraldas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Esmeraldas or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Esmeraldas 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.
Which city is safer, Esmeraldas or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Esmeraldas 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Esmeraldas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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