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: $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
$10.47 ARS 14.9K
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
194.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.99 ARS 48.5K
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
3.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.26 ARS 13.2K
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
87.07%
Cappuccino
$2.76 ARS 3,941
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
1.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 ARS 2,421
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
26.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 ARS 2,212
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
121.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ARS 3,030
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
-27.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 ARS 4,153
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
-26.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 ARS 1,796
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
-30.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ARS 2,326
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
-35.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.98 ARS 2,820
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
70.69%
Eggs
$2.28 ARS 3,257
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
-7.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.03 ARS 14.3K
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
-31.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.25 ARS 8,913
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
44.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.26 ARS 13.2K
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
-23.72%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 ARS 2,861
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
-47.66%
Banana (1kg)
$2.06 ARS 2,936
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
32.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.26 ARS 1,803
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
-55.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.62 ARS 3,732
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
12.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 ARS 1,676
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
-38.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.25 ARS 1,780
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
-43.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 ARS 1,797
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
24.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 ARS 2,068
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
85.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.05 ARS 4,357
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
-8.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.34 ARS 6,196
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-81.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 ARS 2,812
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
-29.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 ARS 4,521
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
10.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 ARS 1,121
$0.27 Rp 4,800
192.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 ARS 2,122
$0.46 Rp 8,150
223.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.87 ARS 1,236
$0.45 Rp 8,037
93.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 ARS 8,652
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
-0.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 ARS 1,504
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
32.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K ARS 39.5M
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
5.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4K ARS 43.4M
$32.1K Rp 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)
$67.3 ARS 95.9K
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
-15.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.95 ARS 24.2K
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
317.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.34 ARS 31.9K
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
-5.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.70 ARS 36.7K
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-73.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.57 ARS 19.4K
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
104.68%
Cinema Ticket
$6.32 ARS 9,009
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
52.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$222 ARS 316.4K
$304 Rp 5.4M
-27.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,750 ARS 3.9M
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
-58.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.7 ARS 103.8K
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
30.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.3 ARS 97.4K
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
78.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 ARS 165.8K
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
31.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 ARS 157.1K
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
41.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$340 ARS 484.7K
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
-66.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$236 ARS 336.9K
$675 Rp 12.1M
-65.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$677 ARS 966.1K
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-80.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$543 ARS 775.1K
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
-73.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,317 ARS 3.3M
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
-18.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Formosa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$165 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: 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.

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