Cost of Living Comparison Between Freetown and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Freetown and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,931 per month in Freetown vs $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,686 per month in Freetown vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,441 per month in Freetown vs $3,732 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Freetown costs about 34% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Freetown and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Freetown by 44%, Ubud, Bali by 7%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Freetown
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.97 SLL 73.5K
$3.57 Rp 61.6K
-16.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.92 SLL 790.3K
$32.58 Rp 562.6K
-2.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.86 SLL 244.2K
$5.07 Rp 87.5K
94.48%
Cappuccino
$1.75 SLL 43.4K
$2.83 Rp 48.8K
-38.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00 SLL 24.8K
$1.34 Rp 23.1K
-25.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 SLL 22.5K
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
31.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.54 SLL 38.1K
$2.99 Rp 51.6K
-48.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 SLL 68.7K
$3.85 Rp 66.4K
-27.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Freetown
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.47 SLL 61.1K
$1.74 Rp 30.1K
41.95%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 SLL 16.9K
$2.54 Rp 43.8K
-73.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.36 SLL 33.6K
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
14.29%
Eggs
$1.97 SLL 48.7K
$2.43 Rp 41.9K
-18.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.04 SLL 174.3K
$14.66 Rp 253.2K
-51.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.58 SLL 187.6K
$4.18 Rp 72.1K
81.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.13 SLL 126.9K
$11.94 Rp 206.1K
-57.04%
Apples (1kg)
$4.11 SLL 101.7K
$3.69 Rp 63.6K
11.38%
Banana (1kg)
$2.02 SLL 50.0K
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
25.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.74 SLL 18.2K
$2.69 Rp 46.4K
-72.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.99 SLL 123.4K
$2.33 Rp 40.2K
114.16%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 SLL 50.1K
$1.91 Rp 32.9K
5.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.66 SLL 41.1K
$2.19 Rp 37.7K
-24.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 SLL 25.0K
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
-4.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 SLL 35.1K
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
97.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.96 SLL 73.2K
$3.13 Rp 54.1K
-5.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.72 SLL 191.2K
$23.49 Rp 405.6K
-67.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 SLL 27.8K
$2.74 Rp 47.3K
-59.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 SLL 49.5K
$2.88 Rp 49.7K
-30.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Freetown
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 SLL 11.0K
$0.29 Rp 5,010
51.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.17 Rp 141.0K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.73 SLL 18.2K
$0.45 Rp 7,834
62.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.24 SLL 30.6K
$0.42 Rp 7,278
195.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.06 SLL 125.2K
$6.16 Rp 106.3K
-17.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 SLL 32.7K
$0.84 Rp 14.5K
57.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.9K SLL 293.6M
$26.2K Rp 453.1M
-54.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K SLL 611.7M
$32.5K Rp 560.8M
-23.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Freetown
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$143 SLL 3.5M
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
82.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.13 SLL 250.8K
$3.95 Rp 68.2K
156.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$99.4 SLL 2.5M
$24.40 Rp 421.4K
307.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Freetown
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.7 SLL 1.3M
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-47.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.35 Rp 109.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.04 Rp 69.7K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Freetown
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$303 Rp 5.2M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$6,523 Rp 112.6M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Freetown
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.96 SLL 246.7K
$53.8 Rp 929.5K
-81.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.03 SLL 198.9K
$37.98 Rp 655.8K
-78.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$20.25 SLL 501.4K
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
-76.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.2 SLL 1.2M
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
-36.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Freetown
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$807 SLL 20.0M
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
-20.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,246 SLL 30.9M
$674 Rp 11.6M
84.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,143 SLL 53.1M
$3,390 Rp 58.5M
-36.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$98.6 SLL 2.4M
$2,098 Rp 36.2M
-95.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,044 SLL 75.4M
$2,985 Rp 51.5M
1.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,740 SLL 43.1M
$2,339 Rp 40.4M
-25.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Freetown
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,123 SLL 27.8M
$173 Rp 3.0M
548.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
13.28
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Freetown: April 25, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $807 in Freetown versus $1,012 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 548% higher in Freetown, 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 $32.00 in Freetown versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $298 – making Freetown 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
Freetown vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Freetown and Ubud, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,931 in Freetown, $1,438 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 34% apart. Freetown costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Freetown compared to Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,896 per month in Freetown and $2,158 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Freetown 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 $32.00 in Freetown 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 is more expensive overall: Freetown or Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,931 in Freetown and $1,438 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
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 $1,438, than in Freetown at $1,931. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Freetown it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Freetown and Ubud, Bali?
It depends on your priorities. Freetown has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,438 in Ubud, Bali to $1,931 in Freetown. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Freetown 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 Freetown and Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Freetown makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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