🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $670 in Higuey versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,077 in Higuey versus $2,582 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,485 in Higuey versus $3,757 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Higuey costs roughly 52% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Higuey is 50% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Higuey
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.58DOP 276
$3.42Rp 58.7K
33.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.45DOP 1,714
$32.96Rp 566.5K
-13.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.11DOP 308
$5.08Rp 87.3K
0.59%
Cappuccino
$2.21DOP 133
$2.82Rp 48.5K
-21.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46DOP 27.82
$1.37Rp 23.5K
-66.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44DOP 26.49
$0.71Rp 12.2K
-38.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.92DOP 116
$2.97Rp 51.0K
-35.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91DOP 175
$3.91Rp 67.2K
-25.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Higuey
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00DOP 60.5
$1.75Rp 30.0K
-42.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.05DOP 63.4
$2.52Rp 43.2K
-58.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.81DOP 49.03
$1.21Rp 20.8K
-33.06%
Eggs
$1.45DOP 87.1
$2.33Rp 40.1K
-37.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.52DOP 152
$14.50Rp 249.2K
-82.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48DOP 210
$4.36Rp 74.9K
-20.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.95DOP 298
$12.05Rp 207.0K
-58.92%
Apples(1kg)
$3.33DOP 201
$3.82Rp 65.6K
-12.83%
Banana(1kg)
$0.92DOP 55.2
$1.61Rp 27.7K
-42.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.92DOP 176
$2.70Rp 46.5K
8.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00DOP 121
$2.23Rp 38.3K
-10.31%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97DOP 58.3
$1.90Rp 32.6K
-48.95%
Onion(1kg)
$2.36DOP 142
$2.18Rp 37.5K
8.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14DOP 68.5
$1.03Rp 17.7K
10.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82DOP 49.32
$0.77Rp 13.3K
6.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12DOP 248
$3.18Rp 54.7K
29.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.28DOP 679
$23.23Rp 399.2K
-51.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66DOP 99.7
$2.85Rp 48.9K
-41.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60DOP 156
$2.72Rp 46.7K
-4.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Higuey
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.04DOP 62.8
$0.29Rp 5,022
258.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.43Rp 144.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.35DOP 202
$0.49Rp 8,344
583.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19DOP 132
$0.45Rp 7,812
386.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77DOP 347
$6.28Rp 107.8K
-8.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29DOP 77.6
$0.85Rp 14.6K
51.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7KDOP 1.6M
$26.1KRp 447.8M
2.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5KDOP 1.9M
$31.5KRp 541.8M
0.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Higuey
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.3DOP 3,030
$79.8Rp 1.4M
-36.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.54DOP 1,538
$4.09Rp 70.3K
524.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.91DOP 1,560
$24.06Rp 413.6K
7.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Higuey
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.21DOP 856
$96.2Rp 1.7M
-85.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.53Rp 112.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.18DOP 252
$4.13Rp 71.1K
1.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Higuey
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$271DOP 16.3K
$297Rp 5.1M
-8.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,996DOP 481.6K
$6,661Rp 114.5M
20.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Higuey
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0DOP 3,613
$55.0Rp 944.5K
9.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.9DOP 3,065
$38.75Rp 666.0K
31.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.7DOP 5,822
$89.6Rp 1.5M
7.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115DOP 6,901
$78.9Rp 1.4M
45.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Higuey
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$164DOP 9,868
$1,018Rp 17.5M
-83.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$111DOP 6,695
$660Rp 11.3M
-83.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$275DOP 16.5K
$3,435Rp 59.0M
-92.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$214DOP 12.9K
$2,053Rp 35.3M
-89.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,981Rp 51.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,368Rp 40.7M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Higuey
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$172Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.25
13.28
-7.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Higuey: April 20, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $164 in Higuey and $1,018 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $28 in Higuey vs $33 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $171 vs $299 per month, with Higuey cheaper across the board.
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
Higuey vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Higuey?
Higuey is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 110% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,005 in Higuey and $2,112 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Higuey and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $164 in Higuey versus $1,018 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Higuey and Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 74% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Higuey vs Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $670 per month in Higuey versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – a 110% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Higuey or Ubud, Bali?
At $670 in Higuey versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Higuey but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Higuey the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Higuey or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Higuey is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Higuey or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Higuey 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Higuey gentler on the wallet – expenses run 110% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.