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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $968 in Formosa versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,567 in Formosa versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,166 in Formosa versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Formosa costs roughly 31% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Formosa is 28% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.62 ARS 15.7K
$3.45 Rp 62.0K
207.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.12 ARS 50.4K
$32.34 Rp 580.1K
5.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.97 ARS 13.3K
$4.84 Rp 86.9K
85.33%
Cappuccino
$2.76 ARS 4,076
$2.75 Rp 49.3K
0.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 ARS 2,437
$1.38 Rp 24.8K
19.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 ARS 2,296
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
106.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.06 ARS 3,047
$2.99 Rp 53.7K
-31.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 ARS 4,520
$3.85 Rp 69.1K
-20.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 ARS 1,861
$1.74 Rp 31.1K
-27.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 ARS 2,303
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
-36.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 ARS 2,910
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
68.38%
Eggs
$2.24 ARS 3,313
$2.43 Rp 43.6K
-7.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.24 ARS 15.1K
$14.50 Rp 260.2K
-29.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.11 ARS 9,026
$4.35 Rp 78.0K
40.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.63 ARS 14.2K
$11.98 Rp 214.9K
-19.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.03 ARS 3,000
$3.72 Rp 66.7K
-45.43%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 ARS 3,030
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
25.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.26 ARS 1,856
$2.74 Rp 49.2K
-54.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.63 ARS 3,881
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
17.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 ARS 1,735
$1.92 Rp 34.4K
-39.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 ARS 1,765
$2.28 Rp 40.8K
-47.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 ARS 1,938
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
23.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 ARS 2,175
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
104.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.17 ARS 4,688
$3.29 Rp 58.9K
-3.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.54 ARS 8,185
$23.19 Rp 416.1K
-76.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 ARS 3,031
$2.78 Rp 49.8K
-26.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 ARS 4,658
$2.73 Rp 49.0K
15.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 ARS 1,136
$0.27 Rp 4,778
185.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.11 Rp 145.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 ARS 2,277
$0.48 Rp 8,659
220.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.87 ARS 1,291
$0.42 Rp 7,532
107.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.84 ARS 8,639
$6.22 Rp 111.6K
-6.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ARS 1,630
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
35.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K ARS 40.4M
$26.6K Rp 477.4M
2.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K ARS 44.4M
$32.2K Rp 577.4M
-6.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.9 ARS 100.3K
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-13.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.82 ARS 24.9K
$4.07 Rp 73.0K
313.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.35 ARS 33.0K
$24.33 Rp 436.4K
-8.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.31 ARS 38.9K
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-73.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.65 ARS 20.2K
$6.34 Rp 113.7K
115.30%
Cinema Ticket
$6.34 ARS 9,369
$3.99 Rp 71.5K
58.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$223 ARS 329.5K
$305 Rp 5.5M
-26.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,679 ARS 4.0M
$6,642 Rp 119.2M
-59.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.3 ARS 109.8K
$54.1 Rp 971.2K
37.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.5 ARS 101.3K
$37.81 Rp 678.2K
81.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 ARS 171.0K
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
33.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ARS 166.4K
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
47.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$335 ARS 494.6K
$992 Rp 17.8M
-66.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$240 ARS 354.7K
$673 Rp 12.1M
-64.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$694 ARS 1.0M
$3,375 Rp 60.5M
-79.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$532 ARS 785.6K
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
-74.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,366 ARS 3.5M
$2,805 Rp 50.3M
-15.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,578 ARS 2.3M
$2,227 Rp 39.9M
-29.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$167 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
58.5
13.28
340.51%

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

Last update for Formosa: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $335 in Formosa and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $34.00 in Formosa vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $232 vs $297, with Formosa 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
Formosa vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Formosa?
Formosa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 45% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,452 in Formosa and $2,112 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Formosa and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $335 in Formosa versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $223 in Formosa versus $305 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Formosa or in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Formosa – 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 Formosa or in Ubud, Bali?
At $968 in Formosa versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Formosa but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Formosa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Formosa or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Formosa 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, Formosa or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Formosa 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 Formosa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% 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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