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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $985 per month in Jos vs $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Jos vs $2,549 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,739 per month in Jos vs $3,694 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Jos is about 30% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Jos sits 27% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.31 ₦1,779
$3.57 Rp 64.7K
-63.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.94 ₦18.9K
$32.50 Rp 589.5K
-57.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.60 ₦6,246
$4.86 Rp 88.2K
-5.35%
Cappuccino
$2.37 ₦3,220
$2.75 Rp 49.8K
-13.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ₦506
$1.32 Rp 24.0K
-71.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 ₦310
$0.70 Rp 12.7K
-67.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.74 ₦999
$2.91 Rp 52.8K
-74.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.79 Rp 68.8K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.53 ₦4,791
$1.71 Rp 31.0K
106.43%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 ₦1,210
$2.47 Rp 44.9K
-63.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.28 ₦4,451
$1.20 Rp 21.8K
173.33%
Eggs
$2.92 ₦3,964
$2.44 Rp 44.3K
19.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.98 ₦13.6K
$14.38 Rp 260.9K
-30.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.95 ₦6,716
$4.31 Rp 78.1K
14.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.56 ₦6,186
$12.21 Rp 221.4K
-62.65%
Apples (1kg)
$3.93 ₦5,339
$3.68 Rp 66.8K
6.79%
Banana (1kg)
$4.86 ₦6,593
$1.55 Rp 28.1K
213.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.72 ₦3,691
$2.79 Rp 50.5K
-2.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.90 ₦5,289
$2.33 Rp 42.3K
67.38%
Potato (1kg)
$2.20 ₦2,981
$1.97 Rp 35.7K
11.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 ₦2,671
$2.31 Rp 41.9K
-14.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 ₦806
$1.06 Rp 19.3K
-44.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₦1,027
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
4.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.28 Rp 59.5K
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$22.79 Rp 413.4K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 ₦931
$2.81 Rp 50.9K
-75.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.78 Rp 50.5K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Jos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.29 Rp 5,281
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.06 Rp 146.2K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.98 ₦1,330
$0.45 Rp 8,146
117.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.45 Rp 8,193
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.17 ₦13.8K
$6.24 Rp 113.1K
62.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 ₦1,219
$0.85 Rp 15.4K
5.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.0K Rp 471.2M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$31.7K Rp 574.1M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 ₦137.0K
$80.8 Rp 1.5M
25.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.82 ₦13.3K
$4.06 Rp 73.6K
141.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$24.42 Rp 442.9K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.62 ₦55.2K
$97.7 Rp 1.8M
-58.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.88 ₦16.1K
$6.45 Rp 116.9K
84.19%
Cinema Ticket
$8.82 ₦12.0K
$4.04 Rp 73.3K
118.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$304 Rp 5.5M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,018 ₦1.4M
$6,621 Rp 120.1M
-84.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$10.10 ₦13.7K
$54.2 Rp 983.6K
-81.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.78 ₦20.1K
$38.78 Rp 703.2K
-61.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$50.7 ₦68.9K
$86.1 Rp 1.6M
-41.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.83 ₦67.7K
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
-35.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$714 ₦969.1K
$986 Rp 17.9M
-27.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$478 ₦648.9K
$658 Rp 11.9M
-27.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$859 ₦1.2M
$3,369 Rp 61.1M
-74.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$588 ₦798.5K
$2,066 Rp 37.5M
-71.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,987 ₦2.7M
$2,741 Rp 49.7M
-27.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,503 ₦2.0M
$2,228 Rp 40.4M
-32.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$68.4 ₦92.8K
$163 Rp 3.0M
-58.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
13.28
-

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

Last update for Jos: June 8, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $714 in Jos versus $986 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 139% higher in Ubud, Bali, 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 $14.00 in Jos versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $297 – making Jos 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
Jos vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Jos and Ubud, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $985 in Jos, $1,404 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 43% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Jos compared to Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,478 per month in Jos and $2,106 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Jos and Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jos, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Jos and $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Jos or Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $985 in Jos and $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Jos, where all-in costs run around $985, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In Jos it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Jos and Ubud, Bali?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $985 in Jos to $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Jos or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Jos and Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Jos. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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