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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,280 per month in Kyoto vs $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Kyoto vs $2,549 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,081 per month in Kyoto vs $3,694 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Kyoto is about 9% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Kyoto sits 5% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.54 ¥1,685

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

195.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.94 ¥5,589

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

7.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.45 ¥871

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

12.14%

Cappuccino

$3.40 ¥544

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

23.64%

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

$0.86 ¥137

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

-34.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥127

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

12.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.39 ¥543

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

16.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.54 ¥1,047

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

72.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 ¥259

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

-5.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.73 ¥277

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

-29.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.18 ¥509

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

165.00%

Eggs

$2.33 ¥372

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

-4.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.43 ¥1,508

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

-34.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.84 ¥1,254

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

81.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.37 ¥2,458

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

25.88%

Apples (1kg)

$5.47 ¥875

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

48.64%

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 ¥402

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

61.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.53 ¥1,045

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

134.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.82 ¥611

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

63.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 ¥263

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

-16.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ¥366

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

-0.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 ¥201

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

17.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥150

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

28.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.04 ¥646

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

23.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.59 ¥1,214

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

-66.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ¥284

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

-37.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 ¥582

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

30.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 ¥265

$0.29 Rp 5,217

468.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$70.0 ¥11.2K

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

767.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 ¥567

$0.45 Rp 8,047

688.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.88 ¥461

$0.45 Rp 8,094

540.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.89 ¥2,862

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

186.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ¥197

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

44.71%

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

$23.4K ¥3.7M

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

-10.10%

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

$17.3K ¥2.8M

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

-45.51%

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

$111 ¥17.8K

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

37.65%

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

$26.44 ¥4,229

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

551.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.33 ¥5,491

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

40.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.5 ¥9,359

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

-40.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.85 ¥3,335

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

223.26%

Cinema Ticket

$13.11 ¥2,097

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

224.50%

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

$369 ¥59.0K

$304 Rp 5.4M

21.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,257 ¥1.2M

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

9.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.88 ¥7,497

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

-13.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.55 ¥5,047

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

-18.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.2 ¥11.7K

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

-15.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.5 ¥14.9K

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

21.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$588 ¥94.1K

$986 Rp 17.7M

-40.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 ¥55.5K

$658 Rp 11.8M

-47.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,633 ¥261.2K

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

-51.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$939 ¥150.2K

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

-54.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,848 ¥295.6K

$163 Rp 2.9M

1030.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.78

13.28

-86.60%

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

Last update for Kyoto: June 8, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $588 in Kyoto 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 1031% higher in Kyoto, 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 $35.00 in Kyoto versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $314 vs $297 – making Ubud, Bali 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,280 in Kyoto, $1,404 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 10% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,920 per month in Kyoto and $2,106 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Ubud, Bali – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Kyoto and $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kyoto, where all-in costs run around $1,280, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In Kyoto it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Kyoto has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,280 in Kyoto to $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Kyoto. 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.