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