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 $297 per month in Kottayam vs $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $486 per month in Kottayam vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $676 per month in Kottayam vs $3,732 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Kottayam is about 79% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Kottayam sits 78% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.17 ₹111

$3.57 Rp 61.6K

-67.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.70 ₹918

$32.58 Rp 562.6K

-70.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.04 ₹382

$5.07 Rp 87.5K

-20.32%

Cappuccino

$0.59 ₹56.0

$2.83 Rp 48.8K

-79.15%

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

$0.38 ₹35.92

$1.34 Rp 23.1K

-71.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 ₹14.22

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

-78.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.41 ₹134

$2.99 Rp 51.6K

-52.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₹279

$3.85 Rp 66.4K

-23.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 ₹56.0

$1.74 Rp 30.1K

-66.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 ₹44.52

$2.54 Rp 43.8K

-81.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.78 ₹73.5

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

-34.45%

Eggs

$0.82 ₹77.9

$2.43 Rp 41.9K

-66.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.35 ₹223

$14.66 Rp 253.2K

-83.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.05 ₹288

$4.18 Rp 72.1K

-27.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.1K

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 ₹223

$3.69 Rp 63.6K

-36.04%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 ₹63.3

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

-58.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 ₹107

$2.69 Rp 46.4K

-57.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 ₹45.51

$2.33 Rp 40.2K

-79.40%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 ₹44.94

$1.91 Rp 32.9K

-75.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 ₹42.76

$2.19 Rp 37.7K

-79.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 ₹37.67

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

-62.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 ₹33.67

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

-50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.17 ₹395

$3.13 Rp 54.1K

33.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.05 ₹384

$23.49 Rp 405.6K

-82.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₹161

$2.74 Rp 47.3K

-37.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 ₹325

$2.88 Rp 49.7K

19.44%

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

$4.65 ₹440

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₹26.31

$0.29 Rp 5,010

-3.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.48 ₹802

$8.17 Rp 141.0K

3.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 ₹107

$0.45 Rp 7,834

151.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 ₹28.08

$0.42 Rp 7,278

-28.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.67 ₹158

$6.16 Rp 106.3K

-72.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₹111

$0.84 Rp 14.5K

39.29%

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

$9,235 ₹873.8K

$26.2K Rp 453.1M

-64.81%

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

$15.2K ₹1.4M

$32.5K Rp 560.8M

-53.15%

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

$27.01 ₹2,555

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

-65.56%

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

$3.38 ₹320

$3.95 Rp 68.2K

-14.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.59 ₹813

$24.40 Rp 421.4K

-64.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.86 ₹838

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

-90.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.46 ₹1,084

$6.35 Rp 109.6K

80.47%

Cinema Ticket

$1.99 ₹188

$4.04 Rp 69.7K

-50.74%

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

$58.7 ₹5,557

$303 Rp 5.2M

-80.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,538 ₹145.6K

$6,523 Rp 112.6M

-76.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.81 ₹2,158

$53.8 Rp 929.5K

-57.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.55 ₹1,660

$37.98 Rp 655.8K

-53.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$25.40 ₹2,403

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

-70.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$17.53 ₹1,658

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

-77.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$137 ₹13.0K

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

-86.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$57.4 ₹5,435

$674 Rp 11.6M

-91.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$296 ₹28.0K

$3,390 Rp 58.5M

-91.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$166 ₹15.7K

$2,098 Rp 36.2M

-92.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$948 ₹89.7K

$2,985 Rp 51.5M

-68.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$555 ₹52.5K

$2,339 Rp 40.4M

-76.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$265 ₹25.0K

$173 Rp 3.0M

52.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.36

13.28

-29.52%

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

Last update for Kottayam: April 28, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $137 in Kottayam versus $1,012 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 53% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $94.0 vs $298 – 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 384% 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 $446 per month in Kottayam and $2,158 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 $297 in Kottayam and $1,438 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 $297, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. 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 $297 versus $1,438 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.