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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $272 per month in Kottayam vs $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $438 per month in Kottayam vs $2,327 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $604 per month in Kottayam vs $3,275 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Kottayam is about 80% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Kottayam sits 80% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.04 ₹99.3

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

-68.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.42 ₹995

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

-70.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.27 ₹408

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

-24.16%

Cappuccino

$0.76 ₹73.1

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

-73.05%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₹31.79

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

-81.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 ₹16.46

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

-78.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.25 ₹120

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

-58.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ₹259

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

-36.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.54 ₹51.3

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

-66.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.38 ₹36.77

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

-83.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.65 ₹61.8

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

-44.44%

Eggs

$0.80 ₹76.6

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

-63.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.17 ₹208

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

-87.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.00 ₹287

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

-25.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

Apples (1kg)

$2.41 ₹230

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

-33.43%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 ₹57.7

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

-63.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 ₹114

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

-48.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.38 ₹36.29

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

-80.61%

Potato (1kg)

$0.40 ₹38.39

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

-78.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 ₹44.11

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

-80.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 ₹36.44

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

-63.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₹29.87

$0.54 Rp 9,560

-42.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.98 ₹476

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

116.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.88 ₹371

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

-83.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₹151

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

-32.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 ₹298

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

1.30%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$4.22 ₹403

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 ₹30.05

$0.25 Rp 4,365

24.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.05 ₹865

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

-3.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 ₹98.8

$0.49 Rp 8,631

110.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.26 ₹24.81

$0.47 Rp 8,349

-44.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 ₹153

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

-71.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₹107

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

37.04%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$9,407 ₹898.8K

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

-62.39%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$14.6K ₹1.4M

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

-53.13%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$21.31 ₹2,036

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

-74.24%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.45 ₹330

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

-46.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.79 ₹649

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

-63.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.21 ₹594

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

-88.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.99 ₹858

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

-50.63%

Cinema Ticket

$1.67 ₹160

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

-61.16%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$10.76 ₹1,028

$494 Rp 8.7M

-97.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,365 ₹130.5K

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

-76.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.29 ₹1,747

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

-60.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.18 ₹1,545

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

-55.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$21.19 ₹2,025

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

-73.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$12.01 ₹1,148

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

-84.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$127 ₹12.1K

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

-88.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.8 ₹5,047

$693 Rp 12.2M

-92.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 ₹25.4K

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

-92.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 ₹11.0K

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

-93.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$944 ₹90.1K

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

-65.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$552 ₹52.7K

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

-75.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$288 ₹27.5K

$167 Rp 2.9M

72.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

-34.69%

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

Last update for Kottayam: September 8, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $127 in Kottayam versus $1,114 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 72% higher in Kottayam, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $10.00 in Kottayam versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $88.0 vs $294 – making Kottayam 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

Kottayam vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 406% more than Kottayam, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $409 per month in Kottayam and $2,067 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kottayam, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $272 in Kottayam and $1,378 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 4% less in Kottayam. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kottayam, where all-in costs run around $272, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. In Kottayam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kottayam costs $272 versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Kottayam. 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.