Cost of Living Comparison Between Guatemala City and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Guatemala City and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,211 in Guatemala City versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,920 in Guatemala City versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,629 in Guatemala City versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Guatemala City costs roughly 14% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Guatemala City is 9% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.23 Q 39.90
$3.45 Rp 62.0K
51.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.9 Q 388
$32.34 Rp 580.1K
57.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.24 Q 47.56
$4.84 Rp 86.9K
28.93%
Cappuccino
$3.31 Q 25.21
$2.75 Rp 49.3K
20.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 Q 9.27
$1.38 Rp 24.8K
-11.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 Q 7.09
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
24.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.33 Q 25.39
$2.99 Rp 53.7K
11.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 Q 34.17
$3.85 Rp 69.1K
16.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 Q 15.59
$1.74 Rp 31.1K
17.82%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 Q 24.13
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
28.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.05 Q 15.63
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
75.21%
Eggs
$2.54 Q 19.34
$2.43 Rp 43.6K
4.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.77 Q 59.2
$14.50 Rp 260.2K
-46.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.59 Q 65.5
$4.35 Rp 78.0K
97.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.59 Q 88.3
$11.98 Rp 214.9K
-3.26%
Apples (1kg)
$3.58 Q 27.29
$3.72 Rp 66.7K
-3.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Q 11.58
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
-6.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.15 Q 24.00
$2.74 Rp 49.2K
14.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.84 Q 14.05
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
-17.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 Q 13.47
$1.92 Rp 34.4K
-7.81%
Onion (1kg)
$2.36 Q 18.01
$2.28 Rp 40.8K
3.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 Q 5.61
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
-30.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 Q 9.31
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
69.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.66 Q 27.90
$3.29 Rp 58.9K
11.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.11 Q 61.8
$23.19 Rp 416.1K
-65.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 Q 12.15
$2.78 Rp 49.8K
-42.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 Q 19.25
$2.73 Rp 49.0K
-7.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.27 Q 9.70
$0.27 Rp 4,778
370.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.43 Q 102
$8.11 Rp 145.4K
65.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.19 Q 39.55
$0.48 Rp 8,659
981.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 Q 4.55
$0.42 Rp 7,532
42.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.92 Q 121
$6.22 Rp 111.6K
155.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 Q 8.21
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6K Q 149.7K
$26.6K Rp 477.4M
-26.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K Q 189.3K
$32.2K Rp 577.4M
-22.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.4 Q 613
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
2.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.23 Q 200
$4.07 Rp 73.0K
544.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.76 Q 372
$24.33 Rp 436.4K
100.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.46 Q 369
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-50.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.54 Q 187
$6.34 Rp 113.7K
287.07%
Cinema Ticket
$7.16 Q 54.6
$3.99 Rp 71.5K
79.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$249 Q 1,896
$305 Rp 5.5M
-18.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,758 Q 43.9K
$6,642 Rp 119.2M
-13.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.0 Q 388
$54.1 Rp 971.2K
-5.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.3 Q 407
$37.81 Rp 678.2K
41.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 Q 903
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
36.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 Q 912
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
56.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$717 Q 5,467
$992 Rp 17.8M
-27.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$429 Q 3,271
$673 Rp 12.1M
-36.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,372 Q 10.5K
$3,375 Rp 60.5M
-59.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$760 Q 5,795
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
-62.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,016 Q 15.4K
$2,805 Rp 50.3M
-28.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,093 Q 8,332
$2,227 Rp 39.9M
-50.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$862 Q 6,569
$167 Rp 3.0M
416.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.9
13.28
-32.98%

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

Last update for Guatemala City: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $717 in Guatemala City and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Guatemala City pays 416% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $51.0 in Guatemala City vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $277 vs $297, 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 16% 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 416% 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: $717 in Guatemala City versus $992 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 $51.0 versus $32.00 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 $1,211 per month in Guatemala City versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – a 16% 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 $1,211 in Guatemala City versus $1,408 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 $1,211 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 16% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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