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: $906 in Esmeraldas versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,395 in Esmeraldas versus $2,557 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,884 in Esmeraldas versus $3,723 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 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Esmeraldas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.94 $3.94
$3.57 Rp 64.5K
10.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.64 $33.64
$32.32 Rp 583.4K
4.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.08 $4.08
$5.01 Rp 90.4K
-18.56%
Cappuccino
$2.79 $2.79
$2.82 Rp 51.0K
-1.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 $0.49
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
-63.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 $0.48
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
-34.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
-33.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08 $4.08
$3.94 Rp 71.1K
3.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Esmeraldas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
-42.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.50 $1.50
$2.45 Rp 44.2K
-38.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 $1.80
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
56.52%
Eggs
$1.48 $1.48
$2.41 Rp 43.6K
-38.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 $8.61
$14.33 Rp 258.7K
-39.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 $7.90
$4.19 Rp 75.6K
88.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.29 $8.29
$12.06 Rp 217.7K
-31.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.11 $2.11
$3.64 Rp 65.7K
-42.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 $1.17
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
-25.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.02 $1.02
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
-63.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.32 $1.32
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
-41.07%
Potato (1kg)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
-27.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 $1.11
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
-51.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 $0.52
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
-50.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 $1.07
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
35.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.04 $6.04
$3.19 Rp 57.6K
89.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.84 $9.84
$23.49 Rp 424.1K
-58.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 $1.58
$2.90 Rp 52.3K
-45.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 $2.86
$2.76 Rp 49.7K
3.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Esmeraldas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 $0.34
$0.27 Rp 4,813
25.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.75 $23.75
$8.37 Rp 151.1K
183.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 $1.47
$0.45 Rp 8,167
226.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.27 $1.27
$0.46 Rp 8,298
176.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.95 $9.95
$6.07 Rp 109.6K
63.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.70 $0.70
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
-18.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K $19.8K
$26.6K Rp 480.0M
-25.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$32.5K Rp 587.6M
-21.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Esmeraldas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.10 $34.10
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
-56.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.56 $14.56
$4.09 Rp 73.9K
255.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.51 $29.51
$23.85 Rp 430.5K
23.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Esmeraldas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.34 $30.34
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
-69.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.75 $14.75
$6.35 Rp 114.7K
132.28%
Cinema Ticket
$6.82 $6.82
$4.01 Rp 72.3K
70.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Esmeraldas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$279 $279
$297 Rp 5.4M
-6.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,512 $8,512
$6,602 Rp 119.2M
28.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Esmeraldas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 $57.6
$53.4 Rp 964.5K
7.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.19 $43.19
$38.11 Rp 688.1K
13.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 $103
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
15.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.5 $84.5
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
10.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Esmeraldas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$345 $345
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
-66.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$312 $312
$680 Rp 12.3M
-54.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 $619
$3,469 Rp 62.6M
-82.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 $501
$2,090 Rp 37.7M
-76.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,080 $1,080
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
-60.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$832 $832
$2,295 Rp 41.4M
-63.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Esmeraldas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$456 $456
$164 Rp 3.0M
178.59%
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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $345 in Esmeraldas and $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Esmeraldas pays 179% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $34.00 in Esmeraldas vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 vs $298, with Esmeraldas cheaper for home cooking.

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 54% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Esmeraldas or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 179% higher in Esmeraldas, 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: $345 in Esmeraldas versus $1,020 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 41% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Esmeraldas – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Esmeraldas or in Ubud, Bali?
At $906 in Esmeraldas versus $1,392 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 54% 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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