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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,494 in Houghton, MI versus $1,395 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,605 in Houghton, MI versus $2,559 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,716 in Houghton, MI versus $3,724 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Houghton, MI is roughly 79% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Houghton, MI 85% above, Ubud, Bali 4% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.77 $12.77

$3.48 Rp 59.7K

266.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.89 $39.89

$32.88 Rp 564.0K

21.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.17 $10.17

$5.09 Rp 87.3K

99.80%

Cappuccino

$4.08 $4.08

$2.75 Rp 47.1K

48.36%

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

$2.73 $2.73

$1.38 Rp 23.7K

97.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 $1.56

$0.71 Rp 12.2K

119.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.96 $5.96

$2.88 Rp 49.4K

106.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.88 $6.88

$3.87 Rp 66.4K

77.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.79 Rp 30.7K

-39.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.60 $3.60

$2.45 Rp 42.0K

46.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$1.21 Rp 20.7K

270.25%

Eggs

$4.07 $4.07

$2.39 Rp 40.9K

70.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.41 $12.41

$14.70 Rp 252.1K

-15.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.49 $11.49

$4.24 Rp 72.7K

170.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.28 $15.28

$12.08 Rp 207.1K

26.49%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$3.66 Rp 62.9K

37.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.61 Rp 27.6K

-3.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.72 Rp 46.6K

60.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$2.27 Rp 39.0K

112.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.90 Rp 32.6K

45.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.30 Rp 39.4K

21.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.02 Rp 17.4K

99.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$0.78 Rp 13.4K

179.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.32 $9.32

$3.24 Rp 55.7K

187.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$24.06 Rp 412.7K

-37.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.84 Rp 48.7K

-37.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.79 Rp 47.8K

22.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.27 Rp 4,610

625.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.24 Rp 141.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 $3.49

$0.45 Rp 7,708

675.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$0.43 Rp 7,305

269.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.62 $28.62

$6.02 Rp 103.3K

375.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$0.86 Rp 14.7K

-2.33%

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

$30.1K $30.1K

$26.1K Rp 447.1M

15.52%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$31.7K Rp 543.7M

-17.77%

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

$186 $186

$78.3 Rp 1.3M

137.21%

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

$53.5 $53.5

$4.00 Rp 68.5K

1237.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.7 $66.7

$24.35 Rp 417.7K

174.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.63 $42.63

$95.8 Rp 1.6M

-55.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.46 Rp 110.7K

Cinema Ticket

$13.27 $13.27

$4.01 Rp 68.7K

230.92%

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

$1,322 $1,322

$302 Rp 5.2M

338.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$6,545 Rp 112.3M

254.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.8 $51.8

$53.4 Rp 916.3K

-3.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.51 $40.51

$38.55 Rp 661.2K

5.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.0 $87.0

$89.1 Rp 1.5M

-2.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

39.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,612 $1,612

$1,016 Rp 17.4M

58.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,340 $1,340

$672 Rp 11.5M

99.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,600 $2,600

$3,368 Rp 57.8M

-22.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,266 $2,266

$2,108 Rp 36.2M

7.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,552 $1,552

$3,001 Rp 51.5M

-48.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 $1,586

$2,337 Rp 40.1M

-32.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,606 $2,606

$178 Rp 3.0M

1367.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

13.28

-50.98%

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

Last update for Houghton, MI: April 12, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Houghton, MI and $1,016 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Houghton, MI pays 1368% 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 in Houghton, MI vs $33 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $392 vs $300 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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

Houghton, MI vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 79% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Houghton, MI pays 1368% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Houghton, MI versus $1,016 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Houghton, MI. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,494 per month in Houghton, MI versus $1,395 in Ubud, Bali – a 79% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,395 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,494 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.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% less than in Houghton, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.