🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $922 in Margate versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,426 in Margate versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,929 in Margate versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Margate costs roughly 34% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Margate is 31% below, Ubud, Bali is 4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.80R 110
$3.57Rp 64.0K
90.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.47R 460
$32.50Rp 582.3K
-12.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.48R 56.2
$4.86Rp 87.1K
-28.40%
Cappuccino
$1.16R 18.83
$2.75Rp 49.2K
-57.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68R 10.96
$1.32Rp 23.7K
-48.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40R 6.53
$0.70Rp 12.6K
-42.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.99R 32.19
$2.91Rp 52.2K
-31.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43R 23.11
$3.79Rp 68.0K
-62.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86R 13.85
$1.71Rp 30.6K
-49.71%
White Bread(500g)
$0.78R 12.64
$2.47Rp 44.3K
-68.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19R 19.32
$1.20Rp 21.5K
-0.83%
Eggs
$2.17R 35.01
$2.44Rp 43.8K
-11.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.83R 78.1
$14.38Rp 257.7K
-66.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.49R 40.23
$4.31Rp 77.1K
-42.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.45R 55.8
$12.21Rp 218.7K
-71.74%
Apples(1kg)
$1.42R 23.02
$3.68Rp 66.0K
-61.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43R 23.12
$1.55Rp 27.8K
-7.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.23R 19.95
$2.79Rp 49.9K
-55.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35R 21.78
$2.33Rp 41.8K
-42.06%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93R 15.06
$1.97Rp 35.3K
-52.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.23R 19.90
$2.31Rp 41.4K
-46.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98R 15.87
$1.06Rp 19.1K
-7.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91R 14.65
$0.73Rp 13.1K
24.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.52R 24.60
$3.28Rp 58.8K
-53.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.50R 56.6
$22.79Rp 408.4K
-84.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87R 14.05
$2.81Rp 50.3K
-69.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42R 22.99
$2.78Rp 49.9K
-48.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06R 17.19
$0.29Rp 5,217
265.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.06Rp 144.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.76R 12.29
$0.45Rp 8,047
68.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.63R 10.14
$0.45Rp 8,094
40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.53R 73.2
$6.24Rp 111.7K
-27.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27R 20.48
$0.85Rp 15.2K
49.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5KR 331.3K
$26.0KRp 465.4M
-21.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5KR 396.8K
$31.7KRp 567.2M
-22.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146R 2,367
$80.8Rp 1.4M
81.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.81R 466
$4.06Rp 72.7K
609.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.61R 543
$24.42Rp 437.6K
37.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.47R 509
$97.7Rp 1.7M
-67.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.30R 53.4
$6.45Rp 115.5K
-48.84%
Cinema Ticket
$3.74R 60.4
$4.04Rp 72.4K
-7.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$204R 3,297
$304Rp 5.4M
-32.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,621R 74.7K
$6,621Rp 118.6M
-30.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.32R 668
$54.2Rp 971.7K
-23.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.21R 488
$38.78Rp 694.7K
-22.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.9R 1,551
$86.1Rp 1.5M
11.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.7R 1,191
$76.7Rp 1.4M
-3.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$360R 5,814
$986Rp 17.7M
-63.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$335R 5,413
$658Rp 11.8M
-49.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693R 11.2K
$3,369Rp 60.4M
-79.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$678R 11.0K
$2,066Rp 37.0M
-67.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$900R 14.6K
$2,741Rp 49.1M
-67.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$695R 11.2K
$2,228Rp 39.9M
-68.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,507R 24.4K
$163Rp 2.9M
822.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.01
13.28
-9.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Margate: June 7, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $360 in Margate and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Margate pays 822% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $28.00 in Margate vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $129 vs $297 per month, with Margate cheaper across the board.
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
Margate vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Margate or Ubud, Bali?
Margate wins on cost – living expenses run 52% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Margate the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Margate or Ubud, Bali?
Margate pays 822% 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 Margate vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $360 in Margate versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Margate and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $204 in Margate 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 Margate vs Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Margate – a meal for two runs $28.00 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 Margate or Ubud, Bali?
At $922 in Margate versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Margate but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Margate the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Margate or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Margate delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $922 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Margate hard to pass up.
How safe is Margate compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Margate 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 Margate gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.