😐A single person spends $2,989 per month in Highland, CA vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,417 per month in Highland, CA vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,844 per month in Highland, CA vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
😐Highland, CA costs about 114% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Highland, CA and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Highland, CA by 118%, Ubud, Bali by 2%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Highland, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.33$25.33
$3.37Rp 59.5K
651.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.5$98.5
$38.59Rp 680.4K
155.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.90$14.90
$5.52Rp 97.3K
169.93%
Cappuccino
$5.84$5.84
$2.64Rp 46.6K
121.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85$3.85
$1.67Rp 29.5K
130.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03$3.03
$0.77Rp 13.6K
293.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.09$8.09
$2.63Rp 46.4K
207.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.83$11.83
$4.28Rp 75.5K
176.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Highland, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46$1.46
$1.55Rp 27.3K
-5.81%
White Bread(500g)
$4.77$4.77
$2.22Rp 39.2K
114.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$7.18$7.18
$1.13Rp 19.8K
535.40%
Eggs
$5.13$5.13
$2.09Rp 36.8K
145.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.14$19.14
$17.39Rp 306.7K
10.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.86$14.86
$3.87Rp 68.2K
283.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.01$22.01
$12.55Rp 221.3K
75.38%
Apples(1kg)
$8.18$8.18
$3.62Rp 63.8K
125.97%
Banana(1kg)
$3.23$3.23
$1.56Rp 27.5K
107.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.41$6.41
$2.35Rp 41.5K
172.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$9.67$9.67
$2.06Rp 36.2K
369.42%
Potato(1kg)
$2.83$2.83
$1.90Rp 33.5K
48.95%
Onion(1kg)
$4.96$4.96
$2.34Rp 41.2K
111.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.52$3.52
$1.03Rp 18.2K
241.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.77$2.77
$0.55Rp 9,781
403.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.67$11.67
$2.25Rp 39.7K
418.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.25$16.25
$23.81Rp 419.8K
-31.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31$2.31
$2.31Rp 40.8K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52$4.52
$2.80Rp 49.4K
61.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Highland, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.05$2.05
$0.27Rp 4,803
659.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.34$30.34
$8.66Rp 152.7K
250.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.97$2.97
$0.48Rp 8,490
518.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.44$2.44
$0.45Rp 7,865
442.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$59.2$59.2
$5.72Rp 100.8K
935.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44$1.44
$0.76Rp 13.4K
89.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K$37.7K
$24.5KRp 431.7M
53.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K$25.5K
$32.1KRp 566.4M
-20.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Highland, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$249$249
$83.6Rp 1.5M
198.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$74.5$74.5
$6.46Rp 113.8K
1053.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.1$70.1
$18.99Rp 334.9K
269.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Highland, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.10$42.10
$56.0Rp 987.0K
-24.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.62Rp 328.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.76$13.76
$4.28Rp 75.5K
221.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Highland, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,420$1,420
$487Rp 8.6M
191.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$36.6K$36.6K
$5,856Rp 103.3M
525.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Highland, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.5$86.5
$45.56Rp 803.3K
89.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.61$46.61
$36.38Rp 641.5K
28.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.1$79.1
$82.0Rp 1.4M
-3.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129$129
$80.4Rp 1.4M
60.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Highland, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,703$1,703
$1,117Rp 19.7M
52.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,188$1,188
$701Rp 12.4M
69.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,746$2,746
$3,537Rp 62.4M
-22.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,159$2,159
$1,762Rp 31.1M
22.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,057$3,057
$2,826Rp 49.8M
8.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,234$2,234
$2,292Rp 40.4M
-2.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Highland, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$170Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.24
13.78
-54.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Highland, CA: August 29, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,703 in Highland, CA versus $1,117 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Highland, CA versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $562 vs $293 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Highland, CA vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Highland, CA and in Ubud, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,989 in Highland, CA, $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 114% apart. Highland, CA costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Highland, CA compared to Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,484 per month in Highland, CA and $2,095 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Highland, CA and Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Highland, CA and $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Highland, CA or Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,989 in Highland, CA and $1,396 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,396, than in Highland, CA at $2,989. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Highland, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Highland, CA and Ubud, Bali?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,396 in Ubud, Bali to $2,989 in Highland, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Highland, CA or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Highland, CA and Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Highland, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Highland, CA vs other spots: cost of living compared