🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,353 in Guatemala City versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,024 in Guatemala City versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,696 in Guatemala City versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Guatemala City costs roughly 3% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Guatemala City is 2% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.99Q 53.3
$3.37Rp 59.7K
107.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.28Q 376
$38.59Rp 682.4K
27.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.68Q 58.6
$5.52Rp 97.6K
39.13%
Cappuccino
$3.41Q 26.04
$2.64Rp 46.8K
29.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12Q 8.52
$1.67Rp 29.6K
-32.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89Q 6.78
$0.77Rp 13.6K
15.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21Q 24.50
$2.63Rp 46.6K
22.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.80Q 36.59
$4.28Rp 75.7K
12.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.09Q 15.93
$1.55Rp 27.3K
34.84%
White Bread(500g)
$2.89Q 22.06
$2.22Rp 39.3K
30.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.03Q 15.47
$1.13Rp 19.9K
79.65%
Eggs
$2.47Q 18.81
$2.09Rp 36.9K
18.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.49Q 49.52
$17.39Rp 307.6K
-62.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.32Q 71.1
$3.87Rp 68.4K
140.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.34Q 102
$12.55Rp 221.9K
6.29%
Apples(1kg)
$3.80Q 29.02
$3.62Rp 63.9K
4.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72Q 13.15
$1.56Rp 27.6K
10.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.91Q 22.17
$2.35Rp 41.6K
23.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.65Q 12.56
$2.06Rp 36.4K
-19.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.48Q 11.31
$1.90Rp 33.6K
-22.11%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17Q 16.57
$2.34Rp 41.3K
-7.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69Q 5.24
$1.03Rp 18.2K
-33.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21Q 9.21
$0.55Rp 9,809
120.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.01Q 30.58
$2.25Rp 39.8K
78.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.08Q 61.7
$23.81Rp 421.0K
-66.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80Q 13.76
$2.31Rp 40.9K
-22.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58Q 19.68
$2.80Rp 49.5K
-7.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.28Q 9.77
$0.27Rp 4,816
374.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.99Q 107
$8.66Rp 153.2K
61.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.18Q 39.51
$0.48Rp 8,515
979.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.45Rp 7,887
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.43Q 79.6
$5.72Rp 101.1K
82.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28Q 9.80
$0.76Rp 13.4K
68.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9KQ 212.9K
$24.5KRp 433.0M
14.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7KQ 196.3K
$32.1KRp 568.0M
-19.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.4Q 583
$83.6Rp 1.5M
-8.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.08Q 222
$6.46Rp 114.2K
350.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.55Q 347
$18.99Rp 335.9K
139.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.86Q 304
$56.0Rp 989.8K
-28.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.08Q 99.8
$18.62Rp 329.2K
-29.75%
Cinema Ticket
$6.38Q 48.68
$4.28Rp 75.7K
49.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$344Q 2,621
$487Rp 8.6M
-29.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,719Q 51.3K
$5,856Rp 103.6M
14.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.73Q 364
$45.56Rp 805.6K
4.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.86Q 365
$36.38Rp 643.3K
31.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108Q 822
$82.0Rp 1.4M
31.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111Q 850
$80.4Rp 1.4M
38.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$828Q 6,316
$1,117Rp 19.7M
-25.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$546Q 4,163
$701Rp 12.4M
-22.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,556Q 11.9K
$3,537Rp 62.5M
-56.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$819Q 6,249
$1,762Rp 31.2M
-53.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,043Q 15.6K
$2,826Rp 50.0M
-27.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,103Q 8,416
$2,292Rp 40.5M
-51.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$843Q 6,427
$170Rp 3.0M
396.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.62
13.78
-15.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Guatemala City: August 30, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $828 in Guatemala City and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Guatemala City pays 396% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $49.00 in Guatemala City vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $279 vs $293, with Guatemala City cheaper for home cooking.
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
Guatemala City vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Guatemala City or Ubud, Bali?
Guatemala City wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Guatemala City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Guatemala City or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 396% higher in Guatemala City, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Guatemala City compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $828 in Guatemala City versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Guatemala City and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Guatemala City – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Guatemala City compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $1,353 per month in Guatemala City versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Guatemala City or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,353 in Guatemala City versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Guatemala City but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Guatemala City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Guatemala City or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Guatemala City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,353 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Guatemala City hard to pass up.
How safe is Guatemala City compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Guatemala City and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Guatemala City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Guatemala City vs other spots: cost of living compared