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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,317 in Isabela versus $1,394 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,951 in Isabela versus $2,551 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,585 in Isabela versus $3,708 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Isabela costs roughly 5% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Isabela is 1% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Isabela
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87 $11.87
$3.40 Rp 60.2K
249.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.2 $60.2
$32.38 Rp 573.6K
85.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.85 $7.85
$5.00 Rp 88.6K
57.00%
Cappuccino
$3.56 $3.56
$2.82 Rp 50.0K
26.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.38 Rp 24.4K
-7.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 $1.24
$0.73 Rp 13.0K
69.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.30 $2.30
$2.98 Rp 52.8K
-22.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 $3.94
$3.97 Rp 70.3K
-0.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Isabela
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.79 Rp 31.8K
10.61%
White Bread (500g)
$2.79 $2.79
$2.46 Rp 43.7K
13.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.20 Rp 21.2K
3.33%
Eggs
$3.03 $3.03
$2.39 Rp 42.3K
26.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.76 $8.76
$14.40 Rp 255.1K
-39.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.74 $6.74
$4.28 Rp 75.9K
57.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.50 $12.50
$11.82 Rp 209.4K
5.75%
Apples (1kg)
$4.46 $4.46
$3.78 Rp 67.0K
17.99%
Banana (1kg)
$2.62 $2.62
$1.63 Rp 28.9K
60.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.01 $4.01
$2.80 Rp 49.6K
43.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.00 $4.00
$2.26 Rp 40.0K
76.99%
Potato (1kg)
$3.94 $3.94
$2.00 Rp 35.3K
97.00%
Onion (1kg)
$3.02 $3.02
$2.21 Rp 39.2K
36.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.99 $2.99
$1.07 Rp 18.9K
179.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 $1.93
$0.76 Rp 13.5K
153.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.07 $12.07
$3.13 Rp 55.4K
285.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.44 $15.44
$23.81 Rp 421.9K
-35.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.84 Rp 50.3K
-9.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 $3.14
$2.78 Rp 49.2K
12.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Isabela
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.27 Rp 4,726
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.37 Rp 148.2K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$0.45 Rp 8,034
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 $1.48
$0.43 Rp 7,578
244.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.19 $15.19
$5.98 Rp 105.9K
154.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
15.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$25.8K Rp 457.2M
39.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$31.8K Rp 563.4M
-16.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Isabela
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$481 $481
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
495.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$78.1 $78.1
$4.14 Rp 73.3K
1786.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.8 $72.8
$24.12 Rp 427.2K
201.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Isabela
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$97.8 Rp 1.7M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.64 Rp 117.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.17 $12.17
$4.04 Rp 71.5K
201.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Isabela
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$465 $465
$297 Rp 5.3M
56.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K $10.6K
$6,590 Rp 116.7M
60.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Isabela
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.00 $45.00
$55.1 Rp 976.8K
-18.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.5 $55.5
$38.51 Rp 682.1K
44.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.4 $91.4
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
6.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 $107
$78.0 Rp 1.4M
37.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Isabela
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$985 Rp 17.5M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$665 Rp 11.8M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,835 $1,835
$3,446 Rp 61.0M
-46.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,042 Rp 36.2M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,829 Rp 50.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,282 Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Isabela
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$169 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.71
13.28
-57.00%

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

Last update for Isabela: June 15, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $60.0 in Isabela vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $339 vs $299 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
Isabela vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Isabela or Ubud, Bali?
Isabela wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Isabela the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Isabela vs Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $1,976 in Isabela and $2,091 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.
How do childcare costs compare in Isabela and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $465 in Isabela versus $297 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Isabela vs Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Isabela – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Isabela or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,317 in Isabela versus $1,394 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Isabela but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Isabela the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Isabela or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Isabela delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,317 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Isabela hard to pass up.
How safe is Isabela compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Isabela 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Isabela gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% 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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