Cost of Living Comparison Between Higuey and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Higuey and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$4.58 DOP 276
$3.42 Rp 58.7K
33.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.45 DOP 1,714
$32.96 Rp 566.5K
-13.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.11 DOP 308
$5.08 Rp 87.3K
0.59%
Cappuccino
$2.21 DOP 133
$2.82 Rp 48.5K
-21.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 DOP 27.82
$1.37 Rp 23.5K
-66.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 DOP 26.49
$0.71 Rp 12.2K
-38.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.92 DOP 116
$2.97 Rp 51.0K
-35.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 DOP 175
$3.91 Rp 67.2K
-25.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Higuey
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 DOP 60.5
$1.75 Rp 30.0K
-42.86%
White Bread (500g)
$1.05 DOP 63.4
$2.52 Rp 43.2K
-58.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.81 DOP 49.03
$1.21 Rp 20.8K
-33.06%
Eggs
$1.45 DOP 87.1
$2.33 Rp 40.1K
-37.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.52 DOP 152
$14.50 Rp 249.2K
-82.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 DOP 210
$4.36 Rp 74.9K
-20.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.95 DOP 298
$12.05 Rp 207.0K
-58.92%
Apples (1kg)
$3.33 DOP 201
$3.82 Rp 65.6K
-12.83%
Banana (1kg)
$0.92 DOP 55.2
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
-42.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.92 DOP 176
$2.70 Rp 46.5K
8.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.00 DOP 121
$2.23 Rp 38.3K
-10.31%
Potato (1kg)
$0.97 DOP 58.3
$1.90 Rp 32.6K
-48.95%
Onion (1kg)
$2.36 DOP 142
$2.18 Rp 37.5K
8.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 DOP 68.5
$1.03 Rp 17.7K
10.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 DOP 49.32
$0.77 Rp 13.3K
6.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12 DOP 248
$3.18 Rp 54.7K
29.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.28 DOP 679
$23.23 Rp 399.2K
-51.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 DOP 99.7
$2.85 Rp 48.9K
-41.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 DOP 156
$2.72 Rp 46.7K
-4.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Higuey
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.04 DOP 62.8
$0.29 Rp 5,022
258.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.43 Rp 144.8K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.35 DOP 202
$0.49 Rp 8,344
583.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 DOP 132
$0.45 Rp 7,812
386.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 DOP 347
$6.28 Rp 107.8K
-8.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 DOP 77.6
$0.85 Rp 14.6K
51.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K DOP 1.6M
$26.1K Rp 447.8M
2.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K DOP 1.9M
$31.5K Rp 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)
$50.3 DOP 3,030
$79.8 Rp 1.4M
-36.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.54 DOP 1,538
$4.09 Rp 70.3K
524.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.91 DOP 1,560
$24.06 Rp 413.6K
7.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Higuey
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.21 DOP 856
$96.2 Rp 1.7M
-85.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.53 Rp 112.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.18 DOP 252
$4.13 Rp 71.1K
1.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Higuey
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$271 DOP 16.3K
$297 Rp 5.1M
-8.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,996 DOP 481.6K
$6,661 Rp 114.5M
20.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Higuey
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 DOP 3,613
$55.0 Rp 944.5K
9.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.9 DOP 3,065
$38.75 Rp 666.0K
31.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.7 DOP 5,822
$89.6 Rp 1.5M
7.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 DOP 6,901
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
45.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Higuey
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$164 DOP 9,868
$1,018 Rp 17.5M
-83.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$111 DOP 6,695
$660 Rp 11.3M
-83.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$275 DOP 16.5K
$3,435 Rp 59.0M
-92.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$214 DOP 12.9K
$2,053 Rp 35.3M
-89.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,981 Rp 51.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,368 Rp 40.7M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Higuey
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$172 Rp 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.

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