Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilo, HI and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilo, HI and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,739 per month in Hilo, HI vs $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,789 per month in Hilo, HI vs $2,557 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,839 per month in Hilo, HI vs $3,723 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Hilo, HI costs about 97% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hilo, HI and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Hilo, HI by 106%, Ubud, Bali by 5%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.68 $16.68

$3.57 Rp 64.5K

367.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.2 $78.2

$32.32 Rp 583.4K

141.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.11 $11.11

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

121.76%

Cappuccino

$7.94 $7.94

$2.82 Rp 51.0K

181.56%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

68.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

213.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.85 $5.85

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

99.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.17 $6.17

$3.94 Rp 71.1K

56.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.78 Rp 32.1K

-1.12%

White Bread (500g)

$7.51 $7.51

$2.45 Rp 44.2K

206.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

462.61%

Eggs

$8.59 $8.59

$2.41 Rp 43.6K

256.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.13 $13.13

$14.33 Rp 258.7K

-8.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.95 $14.95

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

256.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.69 $23.69

$12.06 Rp 217.7K

96.43%

Apples (1kg)

$5.77 $5.77

$3.64 Rp 65.7K

58.52%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

74.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$9.65 $9.65

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

245.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$10.87 $10.87

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

385.27%

Potato (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$1.98 Rp 35.7K

157.07%

Onion (1kg)

$7.59 $7.59

$2.28 Rp 41.1K

232.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.66 $4.66

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

343.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 $2.74

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

246.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.36 $13.36

$3.19 Rp 57.6K

318.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.09 $15.09

$23.49 Rp 424.1K

-35.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.90 Rp 52.3K

-38.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 $3.31

$2.76 Rp 49.7K

19.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.27 Rp 4,813

622.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 151.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 $3.78

$0.45 Rp 8,167

740.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.12 $1.12

$0.46 Rp 8,298

143.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$6.07 Rp 109.6K

385.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

45.35%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.6K $22.6K

$26.6K Rp 480.0M

-15.13%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.9K $23.9K

$32.5K Rp 587.6M

-26.50%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$279 $279

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

253.09%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$42.13 $42.13

$4.09 Rp 73.9K

930.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.3 $53.3

$23.85 Rp 430.5K

123.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.55 $49.55

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

-49.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.7K

Cinema Ticket

$12.42 $12.42

$4.01 Rp 72.3K

209.73%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,314 $1,314

$297 Rp 5.4M

342.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$6,602 Rp 119.2M

256.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.69 $38.69

$53.4 Rp 964.5K

-27.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$38.11 Rp 688.1K

-73.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 $77.9

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

-12.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.0 $79.0

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

3.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,691 $1,691

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

65.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 $1,223

$680 Rp 12.3M

79.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$3,469 Rp 62.6M

-35.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,576 $1,576

$2,090 Rp 37.7M

-24.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,321 $5,321

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

95.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,334 $5,334

$2,295 Rp 41.4M

132.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,536 $4,536

$164 Rp 3.0M

2671.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

13.28

-52.41%

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

Last update for Hilo, HI: July 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,691 in Hilo, HI versus $1,020 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.

Salaries run about 2671% higher in Hilo, HI, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Hilo, HI versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $604 vs $298 – 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

Hilo, HI vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hilo, HI costs about 97% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,109 per month in Hilo, HI and $2,088 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Hilo, HI and $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 103% more in Hilo, HI, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,392, than in Hilo, HI at $2,739. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hilo, HI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,392 versus $2,739 in Hilo, HI. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hilo, HI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.