😐A single person spends $2,562 per month in Fort Madison, IA vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,704 per month in Fort Madison, IA vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,847 per month in Fort Madison, IA vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
😐Fort Madison, IA costs about 83% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Fort Madison, IA and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Fort Madison, IA by 86%, Ubud, Bali by 2%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fort Madison, IA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.05$20.05
$3.37Rp 59.5K
494.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.8$74.8
$38.59Rp 680.4K
93.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39$11.39
$5.52Rp 97.3K
106.34%
Cappuccino
$5.45$5.45
$2.64Rp 46.6K
106.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60$2.60
$1.67Rp 29.5K
55.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97$1.97
$0.77Rp 13.6K
155.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.15$6.15
$2.63Rp 46.4K
133.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.18$7.18
$4.28Rp 75.5K
67.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fort Madison, IA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00$1.00
$1.55Rp 27.3K
-35.48%
White Bread(500g)
$3.41$3.41
$2.22Rp 39.2K
53.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.42$4.42
$1.13Rp 19.8K
291.15%
Eggs
$4.16$4.16
$2.09Rp 36.8K
99.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.60$12.60
$17.39Rp 306.7K
-27.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.22$11.22
$3.87Rp 68.2K
189.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.45$16.45
$12.55Rp 221.3K
31.08%
Apples(1kg)
$4.90$4.90
$3.62Rp 63.8K
35.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59$1.59
$1.56Rp 27.5K
1.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.47$4.47
$2.35Rp 41.5K
90.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.66$4.66
$2.06Rp 36.2K
126.21%
Potato(1kg)
$2.87$2.87
$1.90Rp 33.5K
51.05%
Onion(1kg)
$3.08$3.08
$2.34Rp 41.2K
31.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.16$2.16
$1.03Rp 18.2K
109.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.30$2.30
$0.55Rp 9,781
318.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.03$10.03
$2.25Rp 39.7K
345.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.20$15.20
$23.81Rp 419.8K
-36.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93$1.93
$2.31Rp 40.8K
-16.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19$3.19
$2.80Rp 49.4K
13.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Fort Madison, IA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.01$2.01
$0.27Rp 4,803
644.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.66Rp 152.7K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.92$2.92
$0.48Rp 8,490
508.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.65$1.65
$0.45Rp 7,865
266.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.98$25.98
$5.72Rp 100.8K
354.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94$0.94
$0.76Rp 13.4K
23.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K$34.1K
$24.5KRp 431.7M
39.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K$25.0K
$32.1KRp 566.4M
-22.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Madison, IA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$200$200
$83.6Rp 1.5M
139.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.9$56.9
$6.46Rp 113.8K
780.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.2$69.2
$18.99Rp 334.9K
264.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fort Madison, IA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.45$41.45
$56.0Rp 987.0K
-25.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.62Rp 328.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.77$13.77
$4.28Rp 75.5K
221.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fort Madison, IA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,356$1,356
$487Rp 8.6M
178.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.6K$22.6K
$5,856Rp 103.3M
286.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fort Madison, IA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5$53.5
$45.56Rp 803.3K
17.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.91$40.91
$36.38Rp 641.5K
12.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.5$88.5
$82.0Rp 1.4M
8.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115$115
$80.4Rp 1.4M
42.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fort Madison, IA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,614$1,614
$1,117Rp 19.7M
44.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,296$1,296
$701Rp 12.4M
84.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,516$2,516
$3,537Rp 62.4M
-28.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,145$2,145
$1,762Rp 31.1M
21.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,955$2,955
$2,826Rp 49.8M
4.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,056$2,056
$2,292Rp 40.4M
-10.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fort Madison, IA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$170Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.12
13.78
-55.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fort Madison, IA: August 29, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,614 in Fort Madison, IA versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Fort Madison, IA versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $394 vs $293 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Fort Madison, IA vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Fort Madison, IA and in Ubud, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,562 in Fort Madison, IA, $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 83% apart. Fort Madison, IA costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Fort Madison, IA compared to Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,843 per month in Fort Madison, IA and $2,095 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Fort Madison, IA and Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Fort Madison, IA and $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 35% more in Fort Madison, IA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,396, than in Fort Madison, IA at $2,562. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fort Madison, IA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Fort Madison, IA and Ubud, Bali?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,396 in Ubud, Bali to $2,562 in Fort Madison, IA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Fort Madison, IA or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Fort Madison, IA and Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fort Madison, IA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Fort Madison, IA vs other spots: cost of living compared