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: $1,608 in Kos versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,407 in Kos versus $2,327 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,206 in Kos versus $3,275 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Kos is roughly 17% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kos 17% above, Ubud, Bali 0% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.19 €14.82
$3.33 Rp 58.7K
416.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.6 €65.2
$35.82 Rp 630.7K
111.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.41 €10.70
$5.63 Rp 99.1K
120.43%
Cappuccino
$4.89 €4.21
$2.82 Rp 49.7K
73.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 €2.91
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
93.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 €0.97
$0.80 Rp 14.0K
41.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.53 €3.91
$3.04 Rp 53.6K
49.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.04 €6.07
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
63.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.42 €2.08
$1.61 Rp 28.3K
50.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 €1.42
$2.27 Rp 39.9K
-27.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.65 €2.28
$1.17 Rp 20.6K
126.50%
Eggs
$4.81 €4.15
$2.17 Rp 38.2K
121.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.26 €12.29
$17.63 Rp 310.5K
-19.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 €8.73
$4.05 Rp 71.4K
149.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.16 €13.07
$12.18 Rp 214.5K
24.47%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.05
$3.62 Rp 63.7K
-34.53%
Banana (1kg)
$2.23 €1.92
$1.64 Rp 28.8K
35.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 €1.29
$2.31 Rp 40.6K
-35.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 €1.72
$1.96 Rp 34.5K
1.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.18 €1.02
$1.84 Rp 32.5K
-35.87%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 €1.00
$2.37 Rp 41.7K
-51.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 €0.98
$1.05 Rp 18.5K
7.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 €0.77
$0.54 Rp 9,560
64.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.39 €4.64
$2.30 Rp 40.6K
134.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.03 €6.06
$23.08 Rp 406.4K
-69.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 €1.86
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
-7.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 €2.42
$3.07 Rp 54.0K
-8.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Kos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 €1.21
$0.25 Rp 4,365
464.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.23 €42.44
$9.42 Rp 165.9K
422.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.09 €3.53
$0.49 Rp 8,631
734.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 €0.93
$0.47 Rp 8,349
129.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.19 €14.82
$5.60 Rp 98.6K
206.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.16 €1.86
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
166.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K €25.1K
$25.0K Rp 440.3M
16.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K €22.8K
$31.1K Rp 547.0M
-14.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$213 €183
$82.7 Rp 1.5M
157.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.32 €20.96
$6.49 Rp 114.2K
274.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.08 €31.10
$18.79 Rp 330.8K
92.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.4 €45.13
$55.2 Rp 972.6K
-5.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.60 €22.93
$18.21 Rp 320.6K
46.07%
Cinema Ticket
$9.41 €8.11
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
118.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$438 €378
$494 Rp 8.7M
-11.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,914 €5,960
$5,917 Rp 104.2M
16.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 €73.8
$46.28 Rp 814.8K
84.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.21 €34.66
$36.44 Rp 641.6K
10.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 €79.5
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
14.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 €113
$78.8 Rp 1.4M
66.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$630 €543
$1,114 Rp 19.6M
-43.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$448 €386
$693 Rp 12.2M
-35.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$765 €660
$3,639 Rp 64.1M
-78.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$618 €533
$1,712 Rp 30.1M
-63.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 €2,475
$2,761 Rp 48.6M
4.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,457 €2,118
$2,293 Rp 40.4M
7.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$935 €806
$167 Rp 2.9M
459.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.44
13.78
-67.78%

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

Last update for Kos: September 7, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $630 in Kos and $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kos pays 460% 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: $76.0 in Kos vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $294 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
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 17% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 460% higher in Kos, 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 compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $630 in Kos versus $1,114 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 and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $76.0 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 $1,608 per month in Kos versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali – a 17% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,608 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 $1,378 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 17% less than in Kos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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