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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,228 per month in Lae vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,292 per month in Lae vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,357 per month in Lae vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Lae is about 13% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Lae sits 8% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.46 PGK 46.03

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

203.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.4 PGK 239

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

68.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

Cappuccino

$2.86 PGK 12.60

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

4.00%

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

$0.85 PGK 3.74

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

-38.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 PGK 2.53

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

-24.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.57 PGK 15.71

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

19.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.59 PGK 24.61

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

45.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 PGK 9.66

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

25.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 PGK 7.02

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

-34.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 PGK 6.00

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

16.24%

Eggs

$4.29 PGK 18.86

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

76.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.24 PGK 45.06

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

-29.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.97 PGK 43.88

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

129.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.49 PGK 50.5

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

-4.09%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 PGK 21.23

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

29.84%

Banana (1kg)

$2.96 PGK 13.02

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

81.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.61 PGK 29.10

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

141.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 PGK 7.28

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

-26.34%

Potato (1kg)

$3.63 PGK 15.97

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

89.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.47 PGK 10.86

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

8.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 PGK 3.25

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

-30.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PGK 4.11

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

29.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.13 PGK 31.39

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

116.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.59 PGK 55.4

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

-45.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 PGK 12.40

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

1.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.70 PGK 20.68

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

72.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 PGK 1.54

$0.27 Rp 4,778

29.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,659

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,532

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 PGK 5.16

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

44.44%

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

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

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

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

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

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$7,905 PGK 34.8K

$992 Rp 17.8M

697.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$749 PGK 3,295

$673 Rp 12.1M

11.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,447 PGK 6,367

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

-57.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$159 PGK 698

$167 Rp 3.0M

-5.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Lae: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $7,905 in Lae versus $992 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 5% higher in Ubud, Bali, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Lae versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $331 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

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

Ubud, Bali costs about 15% more than Lae, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,841 per month in Lae and $2,112 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lae, 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 $1,228 in Lae and $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Ubud, Bali – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Lae, where all-in costs run around $1,228, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Lae 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. Lae costs $1,228 versus $1,408 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 Lae. 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.