Cost of Living Comparison Between Lowell, MA and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Lowell, MA and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,658 per month in Lowell, MA vs $1,395 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,230 per month in Lowell, MA vs $2,559 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,802 per month in Lowell, MA vs $3,724 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Lowell, MA costs about 91% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Lowell, MA and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Lowell, MA by 97%, Ubud, Bali by 4%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.12 $19.12

$3.48 Rp 59.7K

449.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.8 $80.8

$32.88 Rp 564.0K

145.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 $8.88

$5.09 Rp 87.3K

74.46%

Cappuccino

$4.48 $4.48

$2.75 Rp 47.1K

62.91%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.38 Rp 23.7K

47.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 $1.66

$0.71 Rp 12.2K

133.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.94 $5.94

$2.88 Rp 49.4K

106.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.66 $7.66

$3.87 Rp 66.4K

97.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.79 Rp 30.7K

-51.40%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.45 Rp 42.0K

-12.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.12 $3.12

$1.21 Rp 20.7K

157.85%

Eggs

$3.90 $3.90

$2.39 Rp 40.9K

63.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.64 $10.64

$14.70 Rp 252.1K

-27.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.87 $8.87

$4.24 Rp 72.7K

109.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$12.08 Rp 207.1K

74.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.66 Rp 62.9K

-23.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.61 Rp 27.6K

-27.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.85 $5.85

$2.72 Rp 46.6K

115.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.77 $5.77

$2.27 Rp 39.0K

154.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.90 Rp 32.6K

-15.79%

Onion (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$2.30 Rp 39.4K

88.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.02 Rp 17.4K

198.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$0.78 Rp 13.4K

180.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.19 $11.19

$3.24 Rp 55.7K

245.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$24.06 Rp 412.7K

-37.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.84 Rp 48.7K

-37.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.79 Rp 47.8K

-30.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.84 $1.84

$0.27 Rp 4,610

581.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.0 $55.0

$8.24 Rp 141.4K

567.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.98 $3.98

$0.45 Rp 7,708

784.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$0.43 Rp 7,305

313.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.64 $28.64

$6.02 Rp 103.3K

375.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.86 Rp 14.7K

4.65%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.0K $30.0K

$26.1K Rp 447.1M

15.18%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.9K $25.9K

$31.7K Rp 543.7M

-18.41%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$185 $185

$78.3 Rp 1.3M

136.23%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$52.6 $52.6

$4.00 Rp 68.5K

1215.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$24.35 Rp 417.7K

167.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.05 $40.05

$95.8 Rp 1.6M

-58.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.46 Rp 110.7K

Cinema Ticket

$14.17 $14.17

$4.01 Rp 68.7K

253.37%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,390 $1,390

$302 Rp 5.2M

360.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$6,545 Rp 112.3M

261.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 $51.5

$53.4 Rp 916.3K

-3.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.08 $33.08

$38.55 Rp 661.2K

-14.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 $65.0

$89.1 Rp 1.5M

-27.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.8 $68.8

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

-12.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,628 $1,628

$1,016 Rp 17.4M

60.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,463 $1,463

$672 Rp 11.5M

117.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,759 $3,759

$3,368 Rp 57.8M

11.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,167 $3,167

$2,108 Rp 36.2M

50.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,517 $3,517

$3,001 Rp 51.5M

17.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,337 Rp 40.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,931 $3,931

$178 Rp 3.0M

2114.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

13.28

-51.43%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lowell, MA: April 11, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,628 in Lowell, MA versus $1,016 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 2115% higher in Lowell, MA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81 in Lowell, MA versus $33 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $366 vs $300 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Lowell, MA vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Lowell, MA is pricier by about 91%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,987 per month in Lowell, MA and $2,092 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 567% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,390 per month in Lowell, MA and $302 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,395, than in Lowell, MA at $2,658. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lowell, MA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lowell, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.