😐A single person spends $2,573 per month in Fort Madison, IA vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,733 per month in Fort Madison, IA vs $2,582 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,893 per month in Fort Madison, IA vs $3,757 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 92%, Ubud, Bali by 5%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fort Madison, IA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.88$18.88
$3.42Rp 58.7K
452.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.0$75.0
$32.96Rp 566.5K
127.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.19$11.19
$5.08Rp 87.3K
120.28%
Cappuccino
$5.03$5.03
$2.82Rp 48.5K
78.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57$2.57
$1.37Rp 23.5K
87.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95$1.95
$0.71Rp 12.2K
174.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.93$5.93
$2.97Rp 51.0K
99.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.08$7.08
$3.91Rp 67.2K
81.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fort Madison, IA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04$1.04
$1.75Rp 30.0K
-40.57%
White Bread(500g)
$3.58$3.58
$2.52Rp 43.2K
42.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.26$4.26
$1.21Rp 20.8K
252.07%
Eggs
$4.30$4.30
$2.33Rp 40.1K
84.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.25$12.25
$14.50Rp 249.2K
-15.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.56$11.56
$4.36Rp 74.9K
165.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.14$15.14
$12.05Rp 207.0K
25.64%
Apples(1kg)
$4.88$4.88
$3.82Rp 65.6K
27.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61$1.61
$1.61Rp 27.7K
-
Oranges(1kg)
$4.17$4.17
$2.70Rp 46.5K
54.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.83$4.83
$2.23Rp 38.3K
116.59%
Potato(1kg)
$2.77$2.77
$1.90Rp 32.6K
45.79%
Onion(1kg)
$2.83$2.83
$2.18Rp 37.5K
29.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.01$2.01
$1.03Rp 17.7K
95.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17$2.17
$0.77Rp 13.3K
181.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.55$9.55
$3.18Rp 54.7K
200.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.12$15.12
$23.23Rp 399.2K
-34.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83$1.83
$2.85Rp 48.9K
-35.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42$3.42
$2.72Rp 46.7K
25.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Fort Madison, IA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.96$1.96
$0.29Rp 5,022
575.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.43Rp 144.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.44$3.44
$0.49Rp 8,344
602.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.64$1.64
$0.45Rp 7,812
264.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.61$29.61
$6.28Rp 107.8K
371.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.89$0.89
$0.85Rp 14.6K
4.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K$29.7K
$26.1KRp 447.8M
14.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K$25.7K
$31.5KRp 541.8M
-18.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Madison, IA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191$191
$79.8Rp 1.4M
139.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.8$52.8
$4.09Rp 70.3K
1190.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.5$68.5
$24.06Rp 413.6K
184.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fort Madison, IA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.35$42.35
$96.2Rp 1.7M
-55.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.53Rp 112.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.53$13.53
$4.13Rp 71.1K
227.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fort Madison, IA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,281$1,281
$297Rp 5.1M
331.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.2K$23.2K
$6,661Rp 114.5M
249.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fort Madison, IA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.4$50.4
$55.0Rp 944.5K
-8.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.95$39.95
$38.75Rp 666.0K
3.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.7$85.7
$89.6Rp 1.5M
-4.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114$114
$78.9Rp 1.4M
44.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fort Madison, IA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633$1,633
$1,018Rp 17.5M
60.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,372$1,372
$660Rp 11.3M
107.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,672$2,672
$3,435Rp 59.0M
-22.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,187$2,187
$2,053Rp 35.3M
6.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,356$2,356
$2,981Rp 51.2M
-20.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,537$2,537
$2,368Rp 40.7M
7.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fort Madison, IA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$172Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
13.28
-50.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fort Madison, IA: April 21, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,633 in Fort Madison, IA versus $1,018 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 in Fort Madison, IA versus $33 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $389 vs $299 – 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 Ubud, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,573 in Fort Madison, IA, $1,408 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 $3,859 per month in Fort Madison, IA and $2,112 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 $33.00 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 30% 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 $1,408, than in Fort Madison, IA at $2,573. 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 $1,408 in Ubud, Bali to $2,573 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