Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gyeongju and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Gyeongju: $1,228 a month against $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $1,700 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ubud, Bali outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Gyeongju
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,228
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Gyeongju and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Gyeongju and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,228 per month in Gyeongju vs $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Gyeongju $1,228
  • Ubud, Bali $1,368

A couple spends around $1,988 per month in Gyeongju vs $2,314 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Gyeongju $1,988
  • Ubud, Bali $2,314

A family of three spends $2,748 per month in Gyeongju vs $3,260 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Gyeongju $2,748
  • Ubud, Bali $3,260

Gyeongju is about 10% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Gyeongju sits 9% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 1% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gyeongju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.61 ₩10.1K
$3.33 Rp 59.9K
128.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.01 ₩63.8K
$35.18 Rp 633.2K
36.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.51 ₩8,653
$5.80 Rp 104.5K
12.24%
Cappuccino
$3.02 ₩4,012
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
10.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 ₩1,457
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
-32.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ₩469
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
-57.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ₩3,442
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
-4.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.34 ₩5,764
$4.30 Rp 77.4K
0.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gyeongju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.31 ₩3,073
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
54.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 ₩3,280
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
7.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.13 ₩4,164
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
165.25%
Eggs
$2.60 ₩3,451
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
21.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.06 ₩14.7K
$17.48 Rp 314.6K
-36.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.33 ₩13.7K
$4.03 Rp 72.5K
156.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.49 ₩24.6K
$12.23 Rp 220.1K
51.19%
Apples (1kg)
$4.50 ₩5,985
$3.55 Rp 63.9K
26.76%
Banana (1kg)
$2.57 ₩3,411
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
63.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.82 ₩5,075
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
70.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.67 ₩4,879
$1.93 Rp 34.7K
90.16%
Potato (1kg)
$2.56 ₩3,398
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
36.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 ₩2,897
$2.29 Rp 41.3K
-4.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.19 ₩2,917
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
121.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 ₩1,766
$0.53 Rp 9,475
150.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.44 ₩4,571
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
50.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.77 ₩19.6K
$23.01 Rp 414.2K
-35.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 ₩1,515
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
-51.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 ₩2,949
$2.91 Rp 52.4K
-23.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Gyeongju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.06 ₩1,409
$0.24 Rp 4,315
341.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.82 Rp 158.7K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.93 ₩3,895
$0.48 Rp 8,684
510.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 ₩1,046
$0.46 Rp 8,233
71.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.57 ₩22.0K
$5.45 Rp 98.2K
204.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 ₩1,354
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
15.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K ₩39.3M
$24.6K Rp 442.2M
20.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0K ₩45.2M
$31.2K Rp 561.4M
9.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gyeongju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.6 ₩107.1K
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
-2.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.83 ₩49.0K
$6.45 Rp 116.0K
471.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.20 ₩36.2K
$18.57 Rp 334.2K
46.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gyeongju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 ₩69.3K
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
-6.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.96 ₩15.9K
$18.11 Rp 326.0K
-33.96%
Cinema Ticket
$11.04 ₩14.7K
$4.38 Rp 78.9K
152.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gyeongju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$639 ₩849.8K
$493 Rp 8.9M
29.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.2K ₩29.5M
$5,754 Rp 103.6M
285.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gyeongju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.34 ₩60.3K
$46.19 Rp 831.4K
-1.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.41 ₩29.8K
$35.33 Rp 636.0K
-36.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.7 ₩121.9K
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
15.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 ₩170.8K
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
63.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gyeongju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$478 ₩635.9K
$1,142 Rp 20.6M
-58.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$366 ₩486.7K
$676 Rp 12.2M
-45.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,163 ₩1.5M
$3,503 Rp 63.1M
-66.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$732 ₩972.7K
$1,700 Rp 30.6M
-56.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,249 ₩9.6M
$2,784 Rp 50.1M
160.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,416 ₩7.2M
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
141.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gyeongju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,841 ₩2.4M
$165 Rp 3.0M
1018.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.22
13.78
-69.38%

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

Last update for Gyeongju: October 12, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Gyeongju
$366
Ubud, Bali
$676 84.6% $310
Groceries & Markets
Gyeongju
$359
Ubud, Bali
$290 19.1% $69
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gyeongju
$145
Ubud, Bali
$108 25.3% $37
Eating Out
Gyeongju
$144
Ubud, Bali
$109 24.5% $35
Clothing & Footwear
Gyeongju
$130
Ubud, Bali
$108 17% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Gyeongju
$74
Ubud, Bali
$65 13% $9.6
Getting Around
Gyeongju
$11 *
Ubud, Bali
$13 13.1% $1.5

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $478 in Gyeongju versus $1,142 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 1019% higher in Gyeongju, 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 $48.00 in Gyeongju versus $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 vs $290 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇰🇷 Gyeongju
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
07:10 7:10 AM
06:10 6:10 AM
1 h behind Gyeongju
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
258,156
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,495 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Gyeongju Ubud, Bali 5,150 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Gyeongju
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Gyeongju vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Gyeongju?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 11%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,843 per month in Gyeongju and $2,051 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gyeongju, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Gyeongju and in Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,228 in Gyeongju and $1,368 in Ubud, Bali. That's a gap of about 11%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $639 per month in Gyeongju and $493 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Gyeongju or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gyeongju, where all-in costs run around $1,228, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In Gyeongju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Gyeongju or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Gyeongju – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Gyeongju or Ubud, Bali?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Gyeongju. 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.

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