Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Cabos and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Cabos and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,101 in Los Cabos versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,757 in Los Cabos versus $2,557 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,414 in Los Cabos versus $3,723 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Los Cabos costs roughly 21% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Los Cabos is 17% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Los Cabos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.48 MX$181
$3.57 Rp 64.5K
193.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.57 MX$667
$32.32 Rp 583.4K
19.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.95 MX$138
$5.01 Rp 90.4K
58.68%
Cappuccino
$3.37 MX$58.2
$2.82 Rp 51.0K
19.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 MX$21.57
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
-7.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 MX$16.66
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
31.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.34 MX$40.53
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
-20.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 MX$66.2
$3.94 Rp 71.1K
-2.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Los Cabos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$24.92
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
-19.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.60 MX$44.90
$2.45 Rp 44.2K
6.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$26.99
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
35.65%
Eggs
$2.33 MX$40.32
$2.41 Rp 43.6K
-3.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.12 MX$140
$14.33 Rp 258.7K
-43.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.05 MX$139
$4.19 Rp 75.6K
92.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.49 MX$181
$12.06 Rp 217.7K
-13.02%
Apples (1kg)
$2.69 MX$46.49
$3.64 Rp 65.7K
-26.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MX$23.95
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
-12.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.72 MX$29.78
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
-38.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 MX$27.44
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
-29.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 MX$31.88
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
-7.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 MX$33.62
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
-14.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.21 MX$20.87
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
15.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 MX$17.09
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
25.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28 MX$74.1
$3.19 Rp 57.6K
34.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.70 MX$185
$23.49 Rp 424.1K
-54.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 MX$27.82
$2.90 Rp 52.3K
-44.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 MX$47.64
$2.76 Rp 49.7K
-0.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Los Cabos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.61 MX$10.54
$0.27 Rp 4,813
125.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.37 Rp 151.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.53 MX$43.72
$0.45 Rp 8,167
462.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 MX$27.76
$0.46 Rp 8,298
247.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.39 MX$145
$6.07 Rp 109.6K
38.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 MX$21.69
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
45.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K MX$372.0K
$26.6K Rp 480.0M
-19.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7K MX$392.0K
$32.5K Rp 587.6M
-30.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Los Cabos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$57.2 MX$990
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
-27.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.39 MX$387
$4.09 Rp 73.9K
447.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.66 MX$478
$23.85 Rp 430.5K
15.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Los Cabos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.54 MX$615
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
-64.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.99 MX$277
$6.35 Rp 114.7K
151.81%
Cinema Ticket
$4.75 MX$82.2
$4.01 Rp 72.3K
18.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Los Cabos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$205 MX$3,540
$297 Rp 5.4M
-31.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,637 MX$62.9K
$6,602 Rp 119.2M
-44.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Los Cabos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 MX$932
$53.4 Rp 964.5K
0.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.95 MX$691
$38.11 Rp 688.1K
4.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.3 MX$1,528
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
-0.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.0 MX$1,350
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
1.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Los Cabos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$514 MX$8,888
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
-49.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$389 MX$6,730
$680 Rp 12.3M
-42.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$947 MX$16.4K
$3,469 Rp 62.6M
-72.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$777 MX$13.4K
$2,090 Rp 37.7M
-62.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,865 MX$32.3K
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
-31.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,232 MX$21.3K
$2,295 Rp 41.4M
-46.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Los Cabos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$845 MX$14.6K
$164 Rp 3.0M
416.00%
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 Los Cabos: July 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $514 in Los Cabos and $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Los Cabos pays 416% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $39.00 in Los Cabos vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $250 vs $298, with Los Cabos 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
Los Cabos vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Los Cabos?
Los Cabos is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Los Cabos or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 416% higher in Los Cabos, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Los Cabos and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $514 in Los Cabos versus $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Los Cabos and in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Los Cabos and in Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $1,101 per month in Los Cabos versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Los Cabos or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,101 in Los Cabos versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Los Cabos but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Los Cabos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Los Cabos or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Los Cabos 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, Los Cabos or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Los Cabos 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 Los Cabos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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