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