Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Houghton, MI and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,353 a month against $2,736 in Houghton, MI, rent and utilities included – about $16,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Houghton, MI
🇺🇸 United States
$2,736
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,353
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,736 in Houghton, MI versus $1,353 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Houghton, MI $2,736
  • Ubud, Bali $1,353

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,593 in Houghton, MI versus $2,297 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Houghton, MI $3,593
  • Ubud, Bali $2,297

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,449 in Houghton, MI versus $3,241 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Houghton, MI $4,449
  • Ubud, Bali $3,241

Living in Houghton, MI is roughly 102% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Houghton, MI 102% above, Ubud, Bali 0% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Houghton, MI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.78 $13.78
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
326.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.55 $39.55
$34.88 Rp 627.8K
13.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.37 $10.37
$5.70 Rp 102.5K
81.93%
Cappuccino
$4.13 $4.13
$2.62 Rp 47.1K
57.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
61.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 $1.62
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
100.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.94 $5.94
$2.65 Rp 47.7K
124.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.38 $7.38
$4.37 Rp 78.6K
68.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Houghton, MI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
-36.31%
White Bread (500g)
$4.18 $4.18
$2.19 Rp 39.5K
90.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.34 $6.34
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
437.29%
Eggs
$3.94 $3.94
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
82.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.31 $12.31
$17.65 Rp 317.7K
-30.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.79 $10.79
$3.78 Rp 68.0K
185.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.97 $10.97
$11.95 Rp 215.1K
-8.20%
Apples (1kg)
$5.09 $5.09
$3.60 Rp 64.8K
41.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
-25.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.25 $4.25
$2.31 Rp 41.6K
83.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.77 $4.77
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
149.74%
Potato (1kg)
$2.80 $2.80
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
57.30%
Onion (1kg)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
29.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.00 Rp 18.0K
121.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 $1.47
$0.53 Rp 9,509
177.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.18 $10.18
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
344.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.99 $14.99
$22.07 Rp 397.3K
-32.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
-17.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 $3.28
$2.98 Rp 53.6K
10.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Houghton, MI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$0.23 Rp 4,112
782.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.90 Rp 160.2K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 $3.02
$0.47 Rp 8,466
542.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.43 Rp 7,737
246.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.22 $29.22
$5.47 Rp 98.4K
434.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
-2.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$23.9K Rp 429.8M
5.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$32.8K Rp 590.1M
-22.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Houghton, MI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$280 $280
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
250.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.6 $57.6
$6.56 Rp 118.1K
778.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.1 $69.1
$18.60 Rp 334.8K
271.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Houghton, MI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.96 $36.96
$54.1 Rp 974.1K
-31.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.28 Rp 329.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.18 $14.18
$4.25 Rp 76.5K
233.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Houghton, MI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,249 $1,249
$493 Rp 8.9M
153.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.9K $22.9K
$5,597 Rp 100.7M
309.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Houghton, MI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 $53.7
$45.58 Rp 820.4K
17.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.58 $41.58
$34.96 Rp 629.4K
18.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.0 $87.0
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
11.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 $108
$78.5 Rp 1.4M
37.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Houghton, MI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,833 $1,833
$1,131 Rp 20.4M
61.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,484 $1,484
$673 Rp 12.1M
120.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,318 $2,318
$3,613 Rp 65.0M
-35.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,967 $1,967
$1,702 Rp 30.6M
15.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,546 $1,546
$2,717 Rp 48.9M
-43.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,550 $1,550
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
-30.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Houghton, MI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,603 $2,603
$166 Rp 3.0M
1464.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
13.78
-52.32%

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

Last update for Houghton, MI: October 18, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Houghton, MI
$1.5K
Ubud, Bali
$673 54.7% $812
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Houghton, MI
$407
Ubud, Bali
$105 74.2% $302
Groceries & Markets
Houghton, MI
$377
Ubud, Bali
$287 23.9% $90
Eating Out
Houghton, MI
$253
Ubud, Bali
$106 57.9% $147
Clothing & Footwear
Houghton, MI
$131
Ubud, Bali
$107 18.5% $24
Sport & Entertainment
Houghton, MI
$65
Ubud, Bali
$63 4.1% $2.7
Getting Around
Houghton, MI
$19 *
Ubud, Bali
$12 33.1% $6.1

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 $1,833 in Houghton, MI and $1,131 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Houghton, MI pays 1465% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $40.00 in Houghton, MI vs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $287 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Houghton, MI
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
10:21 10:21 AM
22:21 10:21 PM
12 h ahead of Houghton, MI
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,000
74,800
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Houghton, MI Ubud, Bali 15,170 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Houghton, MI
  • 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
Houghton, MI vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Houghton, MI?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 102% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Houghton, MI or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 1465% higher in Houghton, MI, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Houghton, MI and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,833 in Houghton, MI versus $1,131 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Houghton, MI and in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Houghton, MI. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Houghton, MI and in Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $2,736 per month in Houghton, MI versus $1,353 in Ubud, Bali – a 102% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Houghton, MI or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,353 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,736 in Houghton, MI, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Houghton, MI. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Houghton, MI or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Houghton, MI, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Houghton, MI or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Houghton, MI 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 Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 102% less than in Houghton, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Houghton, MI vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?