🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,234 in Guatemala City versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,935 in Guatemala City versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,637 in Guatemala City versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Guatemala City costs roughly 13% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Guatemala City is 8% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.34Q 40.67
$3.56Rp 63.9K
50.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.37Q 376
$32.73Rp 586.8K
50.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.50Q 49.52
$4.95Rp 88.7K
31.31%
Cappuccino
$3.41Q 25.95
$2.71Rp 48.6K
25.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17Q 8.89
$1.34Rp 24.1K
-12.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96Q 7.33
$0.70Rp 12.5K
37.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.36Q 25.57
$2.92Rp 52.3K
15.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.49Q 34.23
$3.96Rp 70.9K
13.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.08Q 15.86
$1.81Rp 32.4K
14.92%
White Bread(500g)
$3.13Q 23.88
$2.52Rp 45.1K
24.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.11Q 16.11
$1.16Rp 20.8K
81.90%
Eggs
$2.56Q 19.53
$2.46Rp 44.1K
4.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.93Q 60.4
$14.71Rp 263.7K
-46.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.65Q 65.9
$4.32Rp 77.4K
100.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.63Q 88.6
$12.14Rp 217.5K
-4.20%
Apples(1kg)
$3.67Q 27.99
$3.84Rp 68.8K
-4.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52Q 11.60
$1.56Rp 27.9K
-2.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.01Q 22.92
$2.83Rp 50.8K
6.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.76Q 13.39
$2.33Rp 41.7K
-24.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.71Q 13.03
$1.91Rp 34.3K
-10.47%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27Q 17.27
$2.20Rp 39.5K
3.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74Q 5.62
$1.01Rp 18.2K
-26.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24Q 9.41
$0.78Rp 13.9K
58.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.63Q 27.62
$3.32Rp 59.4K
9.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.12Q 61.9
$23.74Rp 425.5K
-65.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59Q 12.13
$2.79Rp 50.0K
-43.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49Q 18.94
$2.86Rp 51.3K
-12.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.29Q 9.81
$0.27Rp 4,819
377.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.64Q 104
$8.03Rp 143.9K
69.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.30Q 40.37
$0.46Rp 8,181
1052.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.59Q 4.51
$0.45Rp 8,068
31.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.50Q 118
$6.10Rp 109.3K
154.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08Q 8.19
$0.79Rp 14.2K
36.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7KQ 150.4K
$26.1KRp 468.8M
-24.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6KQ 187.5K
$32.1KRp 575.8M
-23.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.7Q 622
$79.9Rp 1.4M
2.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.82Q 204
$4.06Rp 72.9K
560.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.40Q 376
$23.52Rp 421.6K
110.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.18Q 375
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-50.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.66Q 188
$6.63Rp 118.8K
271.95%
Cinema Ticket
$7.37Q 56.1
$4.15Rp 74.3K
77.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$247Q 1,884
$304Rp 5.4M
-18.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,695Q 43.4K
$6,613Rp 118.5M
-13.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.8Q 387
$55.5Rp 995.6K
-8.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.6Q 408
$38.31Rp 686.7K
39.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116Q 881
$88.6Rp 1.6M
30.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122Q 931
$77.9Rp 1.4M
56.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$716Q 5,451
$1,006Rp 18.0M
-28.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$429Q 3,269
$675Rp 12.1M
-36.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,376Q 10.5K
$3,442Rp 61.7M
-60.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$770Q 5,866
$2,039Rp 36.6M
-62.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,024Q 15.4K
$2,841Rp 50.9M
-28.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,096Q 8,349
$2,264Rp 40.6M
-51.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guatemala City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$857Q 6,531
$165Rp 3.0M
418.86%
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Guatemala City and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Guatemala City pays 419% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $278 vs $302, 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 15% 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 Ubud, Bali?
Guatemala City pays 419% more on average, 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Guatemala City versus $1,006 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Guatemala City – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $33.00 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 $1,234 per month in Guatemala City versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – a 15% 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 Ubud, Bali?
At $1,234 in Guatemala City versus $1,419 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 $1,234 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 15% 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