🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,093 in Los Cabos versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,760 in Los Cabos versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,427 in Los Cabos versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Los Cabos costs roughly 24% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Los Cabos is 18% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Los Cabos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.62MX$186
$3.57Rp 61.9K
197.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.18MX$686
$32.58Rp 564.7K
20.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.06MX$141
$5.07Rp 87.8K
58.97%
Cappuccino
$3.29MX$57.6
$2.83Rp 49.0K
16.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23MX$21.56
$1.34Rp 23.2K
-8.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99MX$17.27
$0.69Rp 12.0K
43.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41MX$42.19
$2.99Rp 51.8K
-19.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89MX$68.0
$3.85Rp 66.7K
1.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Los Cabos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50MX$26.23
$1.74Rp 30.2K
-13.79%
White Bread(500g)
$2.60MX$45.50
$2.54Rp 44.0K
2.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.54
$1.19Rp 20.6K
36.97%
Eggs
$2.36MX$41.36
$2.43Rp 42.0K
-2.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.89MX$138
$14.66Rp 254.1K
-46.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.66MX$134
$4.18Rp 72.4K
83.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.55MX$185
$11.94Rp 206.9K
-11.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.59
$3.69Rp 63.9K
-29.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38MX$24.13
$1.61Rp 27.8K
-14.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80MX$31.47
$2.69Rp 46.5K
-33.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.74
$2.33Rp 40.4K
-29.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92MX$33.69
$1.91Rp 33.0K
0.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94MX$33.91
$2.19Rp 37.9K
-11.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19MX$20.89
$1.06Rp 18.3K
12.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01MX$17.76
$0.72Rp 12.5K
40.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26MX$74.6
$3.13Rp 54.3K
36.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.01MX$193
$23.49Rp 407.1K
-53.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59MX$27.91
$2.74Rp 47.5K
-41.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76MX$48.21
$2.88Rp 49.9K
-4.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Los Cabos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.61MX$10.69
$0.29Rp 5,029
110.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.17Rp 141.6K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.61MX$45.59
$0.45Rp 7,863
480.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59MX$27.91
$0.42Rp 7,305
278.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.21MX$144
$6.16Rp 106.7K
33.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.07
$0.84Rp 14.6K
57.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5KMX$376.3K
$26.2KRp 454.9M
-18.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2KMX$387.9K
$32.5KRp 562.9M
-31.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Los Cabos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$56.0MX$981
$78.4Rp 1.4M
-28.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.04MX$386
$3.95Rp 68.5K
457.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.65MX$484
$24.40Rp 423.0K
13.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Los Cabos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.87MX$628
$96.5Rp 1.7M
-62.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.92MX$279
$6.35Rp 110.0K
150.71%
Cinema Ticket
$4.52MX$79.1
$4.04Rp 70.0K
11.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Los Cabos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$205MX$3,592
$303Rp 5.2M
-32.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,627MX$63.5K
$6,523Rp 113.1M
-44.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Los Cabos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.4MX$917
$53.8Rp 933.1K
-2.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$701
$37.98Rp 658.3K
5.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.2MX$1,597
$86.8Rp 1.5M
5.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.0MX$1,399
$78.9Rp 1.4M
1.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Los Cabos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$504MX$8,826
$1,012Rp 17.5M
-50.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$394MX$6,897
$674Rp 11.7M
-41.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$949MX$16.6K
$3,390Rp 58.8M
-71.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$762MX$13.3K
$2,098Rp 36.4M
-63.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,992MX$34.9K
$2,985Rp 51.7M
-33.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,288MX$22.5K
$2,339Rp 40.5M
-44.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Los Cabos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$854MX$14.9K
$173Rp 3.0M
393.35%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $504 in Los Cabos and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Los Cabos pays 393% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 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 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Los Cabos or Ubud, Bali?
Los Cabos pays 393% more on average, 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: $504 in Los Cabos versus $1,012 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 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $1,093 per month in Los Cabos versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Los Cabos or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,093 in Los Cabos versus $1,438 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 32% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.