🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $905 in Margate versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,395 in Margate versus $2,557 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,885 in Margate versus $3,723 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Margate costs roughly 35% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Margate is 32% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.03R 116
$3.57Rp 64.5K
96.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.75R 457
$32.32Rp 583.4K
-14.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.59R 59.0
$5.01Rp 90.4K
-28.34%
Cappuccino
$1.18R 19.47
$2.82Rp 51.0K
-58.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67R 11.03
$1.35Rp 24.4K
-50.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40R 6.59
$0.73Rp 13.2K
-45.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.01R 33.03
$2.93Rp 53.0K
-31.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42R 23.37
$3.94Rp 71.1K
-63.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.85R 14.01
$1.78Rp 32.1K
-52.25%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79R 13.08
$2.45Rp 44.2K
-67.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26R 20.79
$1.15Rp 20.7K
9.57%
Eggs
$2.10R 34.59
$2.41Rp 43.6K
-12.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.77R 78.6
$14.33Rp 258.7K
-66.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.40R 39.57
$4.19Rp 75.6K
-42.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.52R 57.9
$12.06Rp 217.7K
-70.81%
Apples(1kg)
$1.36R 22.36
$3.64Rp 65.7K
-62.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37R 22.49
$1.57Rp 28.3K
-12.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.28R 21.06
$2.79Rp 50.3K
-54.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.31R 21.56
$2.24Rp 40.5K
-41.52%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94R 15.47
$1.98Rp 35.7K
-52.53%
Onion(1kg)
$1.24R 20.34
$2.28Rp 41.1K
-45.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98R 16.09
$1.05Rp 19.0K
-6.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94R 15.48
$0.79Rp 14.2K
18.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.46R 24.07
$3.19Rp 57.6K
-54.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.46R 57.0
$23.49Rp 424.1K
-85.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94R 15.49
$2.90Rp 52.3K
-67.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41R 23.25
$2.76Rp 49.7K
-48.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.02R 16.86
$0.27Rp 4,813
277.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.37Rp 151.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71R 11.64
$0.45Rp 8,167
57.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58R 9.60
$0.46Rp 8,298
26.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.58R 75.5
$6.07Rp 109.6K
-24.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33R 21.88
$0.86Rp 15.6K
54.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9KR 327.9K
$26.6KRp 480.0M
-25.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3KR 399.5K
$32.5KRp 587.6M
-25.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145R 2,381
$79.0Rp 1.4M
83.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.84R 475
$4.09Rp 73.9K
605.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.02R 560
$23.85Rp 430.5K
42.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.47R 502
$98.8Rp 1.8M
-69.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.35R 55.1
$6.35Rp 114.7K
-47.24%
Cinema Ticket
$3.54R 58.3
$4.01Rp 72.3K
-11.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$206R 3,389
$297Rp 5.4M
-30.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,591R 75.6K
$6,602Rp 119.2M
-30.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.70R 703
$53.4Rp 964.5K
-20.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.68R 489
$38.11Rp 688.1K
-22.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6R 1,541
$88.7Rp 1.6M
5.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.5R 1,210
$76.6Rp 1.4M
-4.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$371R 6,103
$1,020Rp 18.4M
-63.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$337R 5,544
$680Rp 12.3M
-50.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$697R 11.5K
$3,469Rp 62.6M
-79.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$700R 11.5K
$2,090Rp 37.7M
-66.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$864R 14.2K
$2,729Rp 49.3M
-68.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$644R 10.6K
$2,295Rp 41.4M
-71.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,513R 24.9K
$164Rp 3.0M
824.51%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $371 in Margate and $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Margate pays 825% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $128 vs $298 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 54% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 825% higher in Margate, 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 compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $371 in Margate versus $1,020 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $206 in Margate versus $297 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 and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Margate – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $32.00 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 in Ubud, Bali?
At $905 in Margate versus $1,392 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 $905 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 54% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.