Cost of Living Comparison Between Guangzhou (Canton) and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Guangzhou (Canton) and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $859 per month in Guangzhou (Canton) vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,406 per month in Guangzhou (Canton) vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,952 per month in Guangzhou (Canton) vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Guangzhou (Canton) is about 39% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Guangzhou (Canton) sits 36% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guangzhou (Canton)
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.82 ¥19.11
$3.45 Rp 62.0K
-18.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.90 ¥148
$32.34 Rp 580.1K
-32.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.77 ¥32.27
$4.84 Rp 86.9K
-1.45%
Cappuccino
$3.11 ¥21.03
$2.75 Rp 49.3K
13.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ¥3.40
$1.38 Rp 24.8K
-63.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ¥2.01
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
-60.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.01 ¥6.84
$2.99 Rp 53.7K
-66.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 ¥11.04
$3.85 Rp 69.1K
-57.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guangzhou (Canton)
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ¥12.78
$1.74 Rp 31.1K
8.62%
White Bread (500g)
$2.00 ¥13.51
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
-18.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 ¥8.73
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
10.26%
Eggs
$1.57 ¥10.60
$2.43 Rp 43.6K
-35.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.92 ¥128
$14.50 Rp 260.2K
30.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.58 ¥30.97
$4.35 Rp 78.0K
5.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.34 ¥97.1
$11.98 Rp 214.9K
19.70%
Apples (1kg)
$2.11 ¥14.25
$3.72 Rp 66.7K
-43.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.25 ¥8.43
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
-23.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 ¥13.42
$2.74 Rp 49.2K
-27.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 ¥9.61
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
-36.61%
Potato (1kg)
$0.94 ¥6.34
$1.92 Rp 34.4K
-51.04%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 ¥7.15
$2.28 Rp 40.8K
-53.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.55 ¥3.74
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
-48.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 ¥4.41
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
-9.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.77 ¥25.48
$3.29 Rp 58.9K
14.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.08 ¥81.8
$23.19 Rp 416.1K
-47.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 ¥6.25
$2.78 Rp 49.8K
-66.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 ¥9.52
$2.73 Rp 49.0K
-48.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Guangzhou (Canton)
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 ¥2.94
$0.27 Rp 4,778
62.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.85 ¥168
$8.11 Rp 145.4K
206.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.71 ¥11.56
$0.48 Rp 8,659
256.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.36
$0.42 Rp 7,532
-16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.09 ¥41.19
$6.22 Rp 111.6K
-2.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 ¥8.02
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
45.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ¥142.8K
$26.6K Rp 477.4M
-20.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.5K ¥132.0K
$32.2K Rp 577.4M
-39.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guangzhou (Canton)
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$60.0 ¥406
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-23.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.13 ¥88.8
$4.07 Rp 73.0K
222.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.76 ¥79.6
$24.33 Rp 436.4K
-51.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guangzhou (Canton)
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.79 ¥283
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-57.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.83 ¥93.6
$6.34 Rp 113.7K
118.14%
Cinema Ticket
$6.34 ¥42.92
$3.99 Rp 71.5K
58.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guangzhou (Canton)
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$313 ¥2,117
$305 Rp 5.5M
2.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ¥106.9K
$6,642 Rp 119.2M
137.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guangzhou (Canton)
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.68 ¥275
$54.1 Rp 971.2K
-24.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.49 ¥193
$37.81 Rp 678.2K
-24.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.7 ¥471
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
-19.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.2 ¥408
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
-21.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guangzhou (Canton)
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$495 ¥3,352
$992 Rp 17.8M
-50.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$274 ¥1,855
$673 Rp 12.1M
-59.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,143 ¥7,735
$3,375 Rp 60.5M
-66.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 ¥4,193
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
-69.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,867 ¥60.0K
$2,805 Rp 50.3M
216.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,363 ¥22.8K
$2,227 Rp 39.9M
51.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guangzhou (Canton)
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,278 ¥8,652
$167 Rp 3.0M
665.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.08
13.28
-69.28%

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

Last update for Guangzhou (Canton): July 12, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $495 in Guangzhou (Canton) versus $992 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 666% higher in Guangzhou (Canton), which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Guangzhou (Canton) versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $297 – making Guangzhou (Canton) 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
Guangzhou (Canton) vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Guangzhou (Canton) and in Ubud, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $859 in Guangzhou (Canton), $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 64% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Guangzhou (Canton) compared to Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,288 per month in Guangzhou (Canton) 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 Guangzhou (Canton) and Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Guangzhou (Canton), especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Guangzhou (Canton) or Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $859 in Guangzhou (Canton) and $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Guangzhou (Canton) and in Ubud, Bali?
Public transport costs about 206% less in Guangzhou (Canton). For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Guangzhou (Canton), where all-in costs run around $859, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Guangzhou (Canton) it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Guangzhou (Canton) and Ubud, Bali?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $859 in Guangzhou (Canton) to $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Guangzhou (Canton) 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 Guangzhou (Canton) and Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Guangzhou (Canton). If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Guangzhou (Canton) vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities