🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $970 in Formosa versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,579 in Formosa versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Formosa versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Formosa costs roughly 32% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Formosa is 28% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.47ARS 14.9K
$3.56Rp 63.7K
194.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.99ARS 48.5K
$32.73Rp 584.5K
3.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.26ARS 13.2K
$4.95Rp 88.4K
87.07%
Cappuccino
$2.76ARS 3,941
$2.71Rp 48.4K
1.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70ARS 2,421
$1.34Rp 24.0K
26.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55ARS 2,212
$0.70Rp 12.5K
121.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.12ARS 3,030
$2.92Rp 52.1K
-27.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91ARS 4,153
$3.96Rp 70.7K
-26.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26ARS 1,796
$1.81Rp 32.3K
-30.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63ARS 2,326
$2.52Rp 45.0K
-35.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98ARS 2,820
$1.16Rp 20.7K
70.69%
Eggs
$2.28ARS 3,257
$2.46Rp 43.9K
-7.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03ARS 14.3K
$14.71Rp 262.7K
-31.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25ARS 8,913
$4.32Rp 77.1K
44.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.26ARS 13.2K
$12.14Rp 216.7K
-23.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.01ARS 2,861
$3.84Rp 68.6K
-47.66%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06ARS 2,936
$1.56Rp 27.8K
32.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.26ARS 1,803
$2.83Rp 50.6K
-55.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.62ARS 3,732
$2.33Rp 41.5K
12.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17ARS 1,676
$1.91Rp 34.2K
-38.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.25ARS 1,780
$2.20Rp 39.3K
-43.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.26ARS 1,797
$1.01Rp 18.1K
24.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45ARS 2,068
$0.78Rp 13.8K
85.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.05ARS 4,357
$3.32Rp 59.2K
-8.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.34ARS 6,196
$23.74Rp 423.9K
-81.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97ARS 2,812
$2.79Rp 49.8K
-29.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17ARS 4,521
$2.86Rp 51.1K
10.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79ARS 1,121
$0.27Rp 4,800
192.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.03Rp 143.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49ARS 2,122
$0.46Rp 8,150
223.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.87ARS 1,236
$0.45Rp 8,037
93.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07ARS 8,652
$6.10Rp 108.9K
-0.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.05ARS 1,504
$0.79Rp 14.2K
32.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KARS 39.5M
$26.1KRp 467.0M
5.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4KARS 43.4M
$32.1KRp 573.6M
-5.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.3ARS 95.9K
$79.9Rp 1.4M
-15.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.95ARS 24.2K
$4.06Rp 72.6K
317.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.34ARS 31.9K
$23.52Rp 420.0K
-5.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.70ARS 36.7K
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-73.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.57ARS 19.4K
$6.63Rp 118.4K
104.68%
Cinema Ticket
$6.32ARS 9,009
$4.15Rp 74.1K
52.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$222ARS 316.4K
$304Rp 5.4M
-27.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,750ARS 3.9M
$6,613Rp 118.1M
-58.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.7ARS 103.8K
$55.5Rp 991.8K
30.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.3ARS 97.4K
$38.31Rp 684.1K
78.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116ARS 165.8K
$88.6Rp 1.6M
31.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110ARS 157.1K
$77.9Rp 1.4M
41.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$340ARS 484.7K
$1,006Rp 18.0M
-66.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$236ARS 336.9K
$675Rp 12.1M
-65.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$677ARS 966.1K
$3,442Rp 61.5M
-80.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$543ARS 775.1K
$2,039Rp 36.4M
-73.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,317ARS 3.3M
$2,841Rp 50.7M
-18.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,264Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$165Rp 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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $340 in Formosa and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in Formosa vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $229 vs $302, 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 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,455 in Formosa and $2,129 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: $340 in Formosa versus $1,006 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 $222 in Formosa versus $304 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 Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Formosa – a meal for two runs $34.00 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 Formosa or Ubud, Bali?
At $970 in Formosa versus $1,419 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 46% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.