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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,494 in Kos versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,288 in Kos versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Kos versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Kos is roughly 5% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kos 12% above, Ubud, Bali 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08 €14.70
$3.56 Rp 64.3K
379.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.2 €64.7
$32.73 Rp 590.3K
129.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.10 €10.41
$4.95 Rp 89.2K
144.44%
Cappuccino
$4.71 €4.06
$2.71 Rp 48.9K
73.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 €2.81
$1.34 Rp 24.2K
143.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 €0.96
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
60.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.58 €3.94
$2.92 Rp 52.7K
56.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.11 €6.12
$3.96 Rp 71.4K
79.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.39 €2.06
$1.81 Rp 32.6K
32.04%
White Bread (500g)
$1.70 €1.46
$2.52 Rp 45.4K
-32.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 €2.08
$1.16 Rp 20.9K
108.62%
Eggs
$4.19 €3.61
$2.46 Rp 44.4K
70.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.78 €11.86
$14.71 Rp 265.3K
-6.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.55 €8.22
$4.32 Rp 77.9K
121.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.69 €11.78
$12.14 Rp 218.9K
12.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 €1.87
$3.84 Rp 69.3K
-43.49%
Banana (1kg)
$2.13 €1.83
$1.56 Rp 28.1K
36.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.43 €1.23
$2.83 Rp 51.1K
-49.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 €1.70
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
-15.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 €1.09
$1.91 Rp 34.5K
-34.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 €1.02
$2.20 Rp 39.7K
-45.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 €0.84
$1.01 Rp 18.3K
-3.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 €0.70
$0.78 Rp 14.0K
3.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.22 €4.49
$3.32 Rp 59.8K
57.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.05 €6.07
$23.74 Rp 428.0K
-70.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 €1.71
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
-28.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 €2.40
$2.86 Rp 51.6K
-2.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Kos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.59 €1.37
$0.27 Rp 4,848
488.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.07 €40.52
$8.03 Rp 144.8K
486.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 €4.10
$0.46 Rp 8,230
934.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.45 Rp 8,116
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.84 €11.92
$6.10 Rp 109.9K
126.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.16 €1.86
$0.79 Rp 14.3K
173.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K €26.4K
$26.1K Rp 471.6M
17.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K €23.2K
$32.1K Rp 579.2M
-16.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$212 €182
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
164.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.12 €19.90
$4.06 Rp 73.3K
469.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.30 €30.39
$23.52 Rp 424.1K
50.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.04 €41.36
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-51.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.71 €22.13
$6.63 Rp 119.6K
287.78%
Cinema Ticket
$9.75 €8.40
$4.15 Rp 74.8K
134.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$431 €371
$304 Rp 5.5M
41.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,897 €5,077
$6,613 Rp 119.3M
-10.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.9 €76.6
$55.5 Rp 1.0M
60.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.41 €33.07
$38.31 Rp 690.9K
0.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.3 €76.0
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
-0.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 €92.3
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
37.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$488 €420
$1,006 Rp 18.1M
-51.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$383 €330
$675 Rp 12.2M
-43.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$749 €645
$3,442 Rp 62.1M
-78.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$608 €523
$2,039 Rp 36.8M
-70.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,853 €2,456
$2,841 Rp 51.2M
0.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,803 €2,413
$2,264 Rp 40.8M
23.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$939 €809
$165 Rp 3.0M
468.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.43
13.28
-66.64%

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

Last update for Kos: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $488 in Kos and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kos pays 468% 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: $75.0 in Kos vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $286 vs $302, with Kos cheaper for home cooking.

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
Kos vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kos or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Kos. 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 Kos or Ubud, Bali?
Kos pays 468% more on average, 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 Kos vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $488 in Kos versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Kos vs Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $75.0 in Kos. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Kos compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $1,494 per month in Kos versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kos or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,494 in Kos, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Kos. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kos or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,419 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Kos compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Kos 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 5% less than in Kos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Kos vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities