Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hat Yai and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Hat Yai: $731 a month against $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $7,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Hat Yai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$731
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hat Yai 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 Hat Yai and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $731 in Hat Yai versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Hat Yai $731
  • Ubud, Bali $1,368

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,300 in Hat Yai versus $2,314 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Hat Yai $1,300
  • Ubud, Bali $2,314

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,870 in Hat Yai versus $3,260 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Hat Yai $1,870
  • Ubud, Bali $3,260

Living in Hat Yai costs roughly 47% less than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Hat Yai is 46% below, Ubud, Bali is 1% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hat Yai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.90 ฿96.9
$3.33 Rp 59.9K
-12.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.67 ฿1,460
$35.18 Rp 633.2K
24.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.66 ฿122
$5.80 Rp 104.5K
-36.90%
Cappuccino
$2.88 ฿96.3
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
5.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 ฿44.34
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
-18.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.60
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
-32.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.80 ฿60.1
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
-33.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 ฿116
$4.30 Rp 77.4K
-19.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hat Yai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.55
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
-3.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 ฿41.68
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
-45.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.28
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
5.08%
Eggs
$2.51 ฿83.9
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
17.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$22.15 ฿740
$17.48 Rp 314.6K
26.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.24 ฿74.7
$4.03 Rp 72.5K
-44.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.19 ฿374
$12.23 Rp 220.1K
-8.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.54 ฿84.8
$3.55 Rp 63.9K
-28.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.10
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
-12.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 ฿63.3
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
-15.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 ฿60.3
$1.93 Rp 34.7K
-6.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.94
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
-22.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 ฿34.38
$2.29 Rp 41.3K
-55.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.74
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
8.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 ฿13.57
$0.53 Rp 9,475
-22.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.36 ฿146
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
91.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.03 ฿502
$23.01 Rp 414.2K
-34.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿59.2
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
-24.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 ฿66.4
$2.91 Rp 52.4K
-31.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Hat Yai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 ฿18.98
$0.24 Rp 4,315
137.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.82 Rp 158.7K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.25 ฿41.71
$0.48 Rp 8,684
160.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.13 ฿37.78
$0.46 Rp 8,233
145.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.94 ฿165
$5.45 Rp 98.2K
-9.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 ฿43.15
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
46.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K ฿630.6K
$24.6K Rp 442.2M
-23.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.1K ฿1.5M
$31.2K Rp 561.4M
44.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hat Yai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.4 ฿2,819
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
1.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.75 ฿393
$6.45 Rp 116.0K
82.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.65 ฿322
$18.57 Rp 334.2K
-48.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hat Yai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.45 ฿1,619
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
-13.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.10 ฿471
$18.11 Rp 326.0K
-22.14%
Cinema Ticket
$7.19 ฿240
$4.38 Rp 78.9K
64.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hat Yai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$562 ฿18.8K
$493 Rp 8.9M
13.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ฿357.3K
$5,754 Rp 103.6M
85.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hat Yai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.54 ฿1,255
$46.19 Rp 831.4K
-18.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.26 ฿878
$35.33 Rp 636.0K
-25.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.9 ฿2,369
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
-10.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.3 ฿3,250
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
24.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hat Yai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$270 ฿9,010
$1,142 Rp 20.6M
-76.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$107 ฿3,576
$676 Rp 12.2M
-84.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 ฿24.4K
$3,503 Rp 63.1M
-79.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$397 ฿13.3K
$1,700 Rp 30.6M
-76.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,915 ฿64.0K
$2,784 Rp 50.1M
-31.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,584 ฿52.9K
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
-29.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hat Yai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$452 ฿15.1K
$165 Rp 3.0M
174.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
13.78
-53.85%

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

Last update for Hat Yai: October 11, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Hat Yai
$249
Ubud, Bali
$290 16.5% $41
Accommodation & Living
Hat Yai
$107
Ubud, Bali
$676 531% $569
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hat Yai
$106
Ubud, Bali
$108 2.2% $2.3
Clothing & Footwear
Hat Yai
$104
Ubud, Bali
$108 3.1% $3.2
Eating Out
Hat Yai
$92
Ubud, Bali
$109 18% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Hat Yai
$63
Ubud, Bali
$65 2.8% $1.7
Getting Around
Hat Yai
$9.2 *
Ubud, Bali
$13 36.9% $3.4

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $270 in Hat Yai and $1,142 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hat Yai pays 175% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $44.00 in Hat Yai vs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $290, with Hat Yai cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Hat Yai
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
03:04 3:04 AM
04:04 4:04 AM
1 h ahead of Hat Yai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
156,802
74,800
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,238 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hat Yai Ubud, Bali 2,380 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Hat Yai
  • 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
Hat Yai vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hat Yai or Ubud, Bali?
Hat Yai wins on cost – living expenses run 87% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hat Yai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Hat Yai or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 175% higher in Hat Yai, 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 Hat Yai compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $270 in Hat Yai versus $1,142 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Hat Yai and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $562 in Hat Yai versus $493 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Hat Yai and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Hat Yai – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Hat Yai or in Ubud, Bali?
At $731 in Hat Yai versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Hat Yai but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Hat Yai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hat Yai or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Hat Yai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $731 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Hat Yai hard to pass up.
How safe is Hat Yai compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Hat Yai 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 Hat Yai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% 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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