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