Cost of Living Comparison Between Foster City, CA and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Foster City, CA and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,114 per month in Foster City, CA vs $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,811 per month in Foster City, CA vs $2,549 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,507 per month in Foster City, CA vs $3,694 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Foster City, CA costs about 193% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Foster City, CA and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Foster City, CA by 206%, Ubud, Bali by 4%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Foster City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.19 $15.19
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
325.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.5 $70.5
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
116.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.06 $11.06
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
127.57%
Cappuccino
$4.96 $4.96
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
80.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 $3.21
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
143.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
237.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.76 $8.76
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
201.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.87 $10.87
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
186.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Foster City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
-39.18%
White Bread (500g)
$3.25 $3.25
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
31.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
80.00%
Eggs
$3.03 $3.03
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
24.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.85 $16.85
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
17.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.08 $11.08
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
157.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.21 $20.21
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
65.52%
Apples (1kg)
$6.16 $6.16
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
67.39%
Banana (1kg)
$2.56 $2.56
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
65.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.91 $4.91
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
75.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.36 $3.36
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
44.21%
Potato (1kg)
$3.35 $3.35
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
70.05%
Onion (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
87.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.03 $3.03
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
185.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 $1.47
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
101.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.18 $11.18
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
240.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.39 $15.39
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
-32.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
-17.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 $3.31
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
19.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Foster City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.66 $3.66
$0.29 Rp 5,217
1162.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$192 $192
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
2280.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.44 $3.44
$0.45 Rp 8,047
664.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.85 $1.85
$0.45 Rp 8,094
311.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.82 $29.82
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
377.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 $1.33
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
56.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K $30.1K
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
15.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K $27.0K
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
-14.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Foster City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$266 $266
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
229.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.34 $49.34
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
1115.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.3 $69.3
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
183.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Foster City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.65 $42.65
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
-56.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.54 $15.54
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
284.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Foster City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,979 $1,979
$304 Rp 5.4M
550.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.7K $25.7K
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
288.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Foster City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.28 $47.28
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
-12.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.96 $29.96
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
-22.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.7 $67.7
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
-21.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.49 $49.49
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
-35.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Foster City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,968 $2,968
$986 Rp 17.7M
201.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,577 $2,577
$658 Rp 11.8M
291.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,455 $4,455
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
32.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,570 $4,570
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
121.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.8K $10.8K
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
294.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,754 $9,754
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
337.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Foster City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,089 $7,089
$163 Rp 2.9M
4237.89%
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 Foster City, CA: June 8, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,968 in Foster City, CA versus $986 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.

Salaries run about 4238% higher in Foster City, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Foster City, CA versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $410 vs $297 – 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
Foster City, CA vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Foster City, CA?
Yes – Foster City, CA is pricier by about 193%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,171 per month in Foster City, CA and $2,106 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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 public transport?
Public transport costs about 2281% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,979 per month in Foster City, CA and $304 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Foster City, CA or Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,404, than in Foster City, CA at $4,114. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Foster City, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Foster City, CA or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Foster City, CA or Ubud, Bali?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Foster City, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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