🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,098 in Lake Balaton versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,667 in Lake Balaton versus $2,582 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,236 in Lake Balaton versus $3,757 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Lake Balaton costs roughly 22% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lake Balaton is 18% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lake Balaton
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.86Ft 2,757
$3.42Rp 58.7K
159.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.28Ft 14.4K
$32.96Rp 566.5K
40.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.77Ft 2,728
$5.08Rp 87.3K
72.64%
Cappuccino
$2.08Ft 647
$2.82Rp 48.5K
-26.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35Ft 420
$1.37Rp 23.5K
-1.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93Ft 288
$0.71Rp 12.2K
30.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.90Ft 592
$2.97Rp 51.0K
-36.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10Ft 653
$3.91Rp 67.2K
-46.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lake Balaton
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10Ft 342
$1.75Rp 30.0K
-37.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50Ft 465
$2.52Rp 43.2K
-40.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91Ft 593
$1.21Rp 20.8K
57.85%
Eggs
$2.61Ft 812
$2.33Rp 40.1K
12.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.34Ft 2,907
$14.50Rp 249.2K
-35.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.78Ft 1,798
$4.36Rp 74.9K
32.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.02Ft 3,739
$12.05Rp 207.0K
-0.25%
Apples(1kg)
$1.72Ft 534
$3.82Rp 65.6K
-54.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.93Ft 599
$1.61Rp 27.7K
19.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99Ft 620
$2.70Rp 46.5K
-26.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.97Ft 923
$2.23Rp 38.3K
33.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11Ft 345
$1.90Rp 32.6K
-41.58%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18Ft 366
$2.18Rp 37.5K
-45.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.50Ft 465
$1.03Rp 17.7K
45.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55Ft 172
$0.77Rp 13.3K
-28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.92Ft 2,154
$3.18Rp 54.7K
117.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.96Ft 1,856
$23.23Rp 399.2K
-74.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03Ft 319
$2.85Rp 48.9K
-63.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48Ft 460
$2.72Rp 46.7K
-45.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Lake Balaton
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18Ft 368
$0.29Rp 5,022
306.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.64Ft 7,667
$8.43Rp 144.8K
192.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.82Ft 879
$0.49Rp 8,344
475.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.17Ft 364
$0.45Rp 7,812
160.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.50Ft 5,444
$6.28Rp 107.8K
178.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76Ft 547
$0.85Rp 14.6K
107.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8KFt 8.0M
$26.1KRp 447.8M
-1.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5KFt 9.8M
$31.5KRp 541.8M
-0.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lake Balaton
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$141Ft 43.9K
$79.8Rp 1.4M
76.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.29Ft 8,180
$4.09Rp 70.3K
542.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.50Ft 6,068
$24.06Rp 413.6K
-18.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lake Balaton
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.80Ft 14.6K
$96.2Rp 1.7M
-51.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.51Ft 5,135
$6.53Rp 112.2K
152.83%
Cinema Ticket
$7.57Ft 2,355
$4.13Rp 71.1K
83.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lake Balaton
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$292Ft 90.7K
$297Rp 5.1M
-1.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,417Ft 2.0M
$6,661Rp 114.5M
-3.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lake Balaton
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.6Ft 22.3K
$55.0Rp 944.5K
30.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.69Ft 8,615
$38.75Rp 666.0K
-28.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.1Ft 22.4K
$89.6Rp 1.5M
-19.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.3Ft 24.4K
$78.9Rp 1.4M
-0.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lake Balaton
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$444Ft 138.0K
$1,018Rp 17.5M
-56.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$342Ft 106.2K
$660Rp 11.3M
-48.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$645Ft 200.5K
$3,435Rp 59.0M
-81.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$535Ft 166.6K
$2,053Rp 35.3M
-73.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,946Ft 916.6K
$2,981Rp 51.2M
-1.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,305Ft 717.1K
$2,368Rp 40.7M
-2.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lake Balaton
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$172Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.4
13.28
-44.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lake Balaton: April 20, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $444 in Lake Balaton and $1,018 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $46 in Lake Balaton vs $33 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $218 vs $299, with Lake Balaton cheaper for home cooking.
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
Lake Balaton vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Lake Balaton?
Lake Balaton is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,647 in Lake Balaton and $2,112 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Lake Balaton and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $444 in Lake Balaton versus $1,018 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $292 in Lake Balaton versus $297 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Lake Balaton and Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lake Balaton or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,098 in Lake Balaton versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Lake Balaton but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Lake Balaton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lake Balaton or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Lake Balaton is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lake Balaton or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Lake Balaton 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Lake Balaton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Lake Balaton vs other spots: cost of living compared