😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,879 in Iskele versus $1,374 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,824 in Iskele versus $2,313 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,768 in Iskele versus $3,252 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Iskele is roughly 37% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Iskele39% above, Ubud, Bali2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iskele
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.98€15.09
$3.32Rp 59.5K
411.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.8€51.4
$35.33Rp 632.1K
63.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.07€8.06
$5.33Rp 95.4K
70.17%
Cappuccino
$3.72€3.31
$2.75Rp 49.3K
35.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87€1.66
$1.73Rp 30.9K
8.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20€1.07
$0.80Rp 14.3K
50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.21€3.74
$2.95Rp 52.7K
42.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86€3.43
$4.44Rp 79.4K
-13.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iskele
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93€1.72
$1.50Rp 26.8K
28.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.48€1.32
$2.30Rp 41.1K
-35.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.41€2.14
$1.10Rp 19.7K
119.09%
Eggs
$5.14€4.56
$2.16Rp 38.6K
137.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.39€11.90
$17.09Rp 305.7K
-21.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.88€7.88
$3.88Rp 69.4K
128.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.56€11.15
$11.92Rp 213.2K
5.37%
Apples(1kg)
$3.20€2.85
$3.57Rp 63.8K
-10.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.88€1.67
$1.58Rp 28.3K
18.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15€1.91
$2.36Rp 42.2K
-8.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.83€3.40
$1.97Rp 35.2K
94.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47€1.31
$1.81Rp 32.4K
-18.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16€1.03
$2.39Rp 42.8K
-51.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61€0.54
$1.02Rp 18.2K
-40.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03€0.91
$0.49Rp 8,792
110.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.78€5.14
$2.25Rp 40.2K
156.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.87€6.10
$22.30Rp 399.0K
-69.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78€1.58
$2.37Rp 42.4K
-24.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.83
$2.90Rp 51.8K
-28.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Iskele
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.31€2.05
$0.25Rp 4,457
824.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$50.2€44.55
$8.55Rp 153.0K
486.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$11.29€10.03
$0.44Rp 7,906
2465.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.10€1.86
$0.42Rp 7,556
400.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.41€19.91
$5.66Rp 101.3K
295.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71€1.52
$0.81Rp 14.6K
111.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K€29.3K
$23.7KRp 424.7M
38.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0K€30.2K
$31.0KRp 554.3M
9.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iskele
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$195€173
$82.3Rp 1.5M
136.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.24€21.53
$6.30Rp 112.7K
284.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.17€31.24
$18.63Rp 333.4K
88.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iskele
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.0€61.3
$54.7Rp 979.2K
26.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.95€26.61
$18.45Rp 330.1K
62.33%
Cinema Ticket
$11.40€10.13
$4.24Rp 75.8K
168.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iskele
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$444€394
$484Rp 8.7M
-8.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,947€6,171
$5,590Rp 100.0M
24.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iskele
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7€75.3
$45.77Rp 818.9K
85.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.75€40.64
$35.69Rp 638.6K
28.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.7€84.1
$78.3Rp 1.4M
20.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3€80.2
$80.1Rp 1.4M
12.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iskele
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,106€982
$1,147Rp 20.5M
-3.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$773€687
$678Rp 12.1M
14.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,854€1,647
$3,504Rp 62.7M
-47.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,369€1,216
$1,688Rp 30.2M
-18.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,029€2,691
$2,788Rp 49.9M
8.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,259€2,006
$2,257Rp 40.4M
0.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iskele
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$926€822
$165Rp 3.0M
460.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.31
13.78
-75.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Iskele: September 28, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,106 in Iskele and $1,147 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Iskele pays 461% 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: $58.0 in Iskele vs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $290 vs $286 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
Iskele vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Iskele or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 37% lower than in Iskele. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Iskele or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 461% higher in Iskele, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Iskele compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,106 in Iskele versus $1,147 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Iskele and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $444 in Iskele versus $484 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Iskele or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Iskele. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Iskele or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,374 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,879 in Iskele, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Iskele. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Iskele or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,374 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Iskele compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Iskele 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 Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Iskele. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.