Cost of Living Comparison Between Harlingen, TX and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Harlingen, TX and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,476 in Harlingen, TX versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,902 in Harlingen, TX versus $2,327 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,328 in Harlingen, TX versus $3,275 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Harlingen, TX is roughly 7% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Harlingen, TX 7% above, Ubud, Bali 0% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Harlingen, TX
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.27 $12.27
$3.33 Rp 58.3K
268.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.09 $46.09
$35.82 Rp 626.9K
28.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.03 $9.03
$5.63 Rp 98.5K
60.39%
Cappuccino
$4.98 $4.98
$2.82 Rp 49.4K
76.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.75 Rp 30.6K
12.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$0.80 Rp 14.0K
155.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.02 $6.02
$3.04 Rp 53.3K
98.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 $4.43
$4.30 Rp 75.2K
3.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Harlingen, TX
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.61 Rp 28.2K
-40.37%
White Bread (500g)
-
$2.27 Rp 39.7K
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.17 Rp 20.5K
-
Eggs
$3.66 $3.66
$2.17 Rp 38.0K
68.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$17.63 Rp 308.6K
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$4.05 Rp 70.9K
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$12.18 Rp 213.2K
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$3.62 Rp 63.3K
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.64 Rp 28.6K
-21.95%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$2.31 Rp 40.3K
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$1.96 Rp 34.3K
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.84 Rp 32.3K
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$2.37 Rp 41.5K
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.05 Rp 18.4K
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.54 Rp 9,502
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.30 Rp 40.3K
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$23.08 Rp 403.9K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.34 Rp 40.9K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.07 Rp 53.7K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Harlingen, TX
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.25 Rp 4,338
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$9.42 Rp 164.9K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$0.49 Rp 8,579
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.47 Rp 8,299
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.60 Rp 98.1K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$0.81 Rp 14.1K
20.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$25.0K Rp 437.7M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$31.1K Rp 543.7M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Harlingen, TX
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$198 $198
$82.7 Rp 1.4M
139.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$98.2 $98.2
$6.49 Rp 113.5K
1413.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.62 $49.62
$18.79 Rp 328.8K
164.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Harlingen, TX
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$55.2 Rp 966.8K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.21 Rp 318.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.30 Rp 75.2K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Harlingen, TX
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$494 Rp 8.6M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,917 Rp 103.6M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Harlingen, TX
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$46.28 Rp 809.9K
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$36.44 Rp 637.7K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$78.8 Rp 1.4M
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Harlingen, TX
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$852 $852
$1,114 Rp 19.5M
-23.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$877 $877
$693 Rp 12.1M
26.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,379 $1,379
$3,639 Rp 63.7M
-62.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,042 $1,042
$1,712 Rp 30.0M
-39.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,826 $1,826
$2,761 Rp 48.3M
-33.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,873 $1,873
$2,293 Rp 40.1M
-18.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Harlingen, TX
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,167 $4,167
$167 Rp 2.9M
2393.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
13.78
-

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

Last update for Harlingen, TX: September 8, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $852 in Harlingen, TX and $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Harlingen, TX pays 2394% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $46.00 in Harlingen, TX vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $32.00 vs $294, with Harlingen, TX 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
Harlingen, TX vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Harlingen, TX or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Harlingen, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Harlingen, TX or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 2394% higher in Harlingen, TX, 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 Harlingen, TX compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $852 in Harlingen, TX versus $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Harlingen, TX compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $1,476 per month in Harlingen, TX versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Harlingen, TX or in Ubud, Bali?
Shoppers in Harlingen, TX pay roughly 819% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Harlingen, TX or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,476 in Harlingen, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Harlingen, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Harlingen, TX or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,378 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Harlingen, TX compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Harlingen, TX 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 Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Harlingen, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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