🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,089 in Lazaro Cardenas versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,741 in Lazaro Cardenas versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,394 in Lazaro Cardenas versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Lazaro Cardenas costs roughly 23% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lazaro Cardenas is 19% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lazaro Cardenas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.61MX$185
$3.56Rp 64.3K
198.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.39MX$671
$32.73Rp 590.3K
17.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.84MX$137
$4.95Rp 89.3K
58.38%
Cappuccino
$3.40MX$59.3
$2.71Rp 48.9K
25.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25MX$21.76
$1.34Rp 24.2K
-6.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.88
$0.70Rp 12.6K
30.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43MX$42.43
$2.92Rp 52.7K
-16.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83MX$66.9
$3.96Rp 71.4K
-3.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lazaro Cardenas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49MX$26.11
$1.81Rp 32.6K
-17.68%
White Bread(500g)
$2.58MX$45.07
$2.52Rp 45.4K
2.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.42
$1.16Rp 20.9K
40.52%
Eggs
$2.34MX$40.82
$2.46Rp 44.4K
-4.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.99MX$140
$14.71Rp 265.3K
-45.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.71MX$135
$4.32Rp 77.9K
78.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.55MX$184
$12.14Rp 218.9K
-13.10%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.51
$3.84Rp 69.3K
-32.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.22
$1.56Rp 28.1K
-7.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.98
$2.83Rp 51.1K
-37.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59MX$27.70
$2.33Rp 41.9K
-31.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.42
$1.91Rp 34.5K
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.01MX$35.16
$2.20Rp 39.7K
-8.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20MX$21.03
$1.01Rp 18.3K
18.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98MX$17.11
$0.78Rp 14.0K
25.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26MX$74.4
$3.32Rp 59.8K
28.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.78MX$188
$23.74Rp 428.1K
-54.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.31
$2.79Rp 50.3K
-41.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82MX$49.26
$2.86Rp 51.6K
-1.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Lazaro Cardenas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.62MX$10.82
$0.27Rp 4,848
129.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.03Rp 144.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.55MX$44.49
$0.46Rp 8,231
454.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54MX$26.93
$0.45Rp 8,117
242.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.47MX$148
$6.10Rp 109.9K
38.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.77
$0.79Rp 14.3K
64.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5KMX$375.2K
$26.1KRp 471.6M
-17.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7KMX$397.0K
$32.1KRp 579.3M
-29.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lazaro Cardenas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$55.6MX$971
$79.9Rp 1.4M
-30.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.43MX$392
$4.06Rp 73.3K
452.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07MX$490
$23.52Rp 424.2K
19.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lazaro Cardenas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.67MX$623
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-63.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.67MX$274
$6.63Rp 119.6K
136.35%
Cinema Ticket
$4.70MX$82.1
$4.15Rp 74.8K
13.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lazaro Cardenas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$207MX$3,611
$304Rp 5.5M
-31.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,582MX$62.6K
$6,613Rp 119.3M
-45.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lazaro Cardenas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.5MX$917
$55.5Rp 1.0M
-5.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.83MX$696
$38.31Rp 690.9K
3.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.9MX$1,587
$88.6Rp 1.6M
2.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.1MX$1,398
$77.9Rp 1.4M
2.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lazaro Cardenas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$505MX$8,812
$1,006Rp 18.2M
-49.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$399MX$6,972
$675Rp 12.2M
-40.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$949MX$16.6K
$3,442Rp 62.1M
-72.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$773MX$13.5K
$2,039Rp 36.8M
-62.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,972MX$34.4K
$2,841Rp 51.2M
-30.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,271MX$22.2K
$2,264Rp 40.8M
-43.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lazaro Cardenas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$582MX$10.2K
$165Rp 3.0M
252.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.48
13.28
-13.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lazaro Cardenas: June 1, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $505 in Lazaro Cardenas and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lazaro Cardenas pays 252% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Lazaro Cardenas vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $302, with Lazaro Cardenas 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
Lazaro Cardenas vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lazaro Cardenas or Ubud, Bali?
Lazaro Cardenas wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lazaro Cardenas the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lazaro Cardenas or Ubud, Bali?
Lazaro Cardenas pays 252% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lazaro Cardenas vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $505 in Lazaro Cardenas versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Lazaro Cardenas and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $207 in Lazaro Cardenas versus $304 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Lazaro Cardenas vs Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Lazaro Cardenas – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lazaro Cardenas or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,089 in Lazaro Cardenas versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lazaro Cardenas but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Lazaro Cardenas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lazaro Cardenas or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lazaro Cardenas delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,089 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lazaro Cardenas hard to pass up.
How safe is Lazaro Cardenas compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Lazaro Cardenas 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lazaro Cardenas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Lazaro Cardenas vs other spots: cost of living compared