🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $917 in Margate versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,412 in Margate versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,907 in Margate versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Margate costs roughly 36% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Margate is 32% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.05R 118
$3.57Rp 61.9K
97.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.46R 477
$32.58Rp 564.7K
-12.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.40R 57.0
$5.07Rp 87.8K
-32.94%
Cappuccino
$1.23R 20.55
$2.83Rp 49.0K
-56.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67R 11.27
$1.34Rp 23.2K
-50.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37R 6.25
$0.69Rp 12.0K
-46.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.01R 33.69
$2.99Rp 51.8K
-32.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36R 22.86
$3.85Rp 66.7K
-64.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.81R 13.59
$1.74Rp 30.2K
-53.45%
White Bread(500g)
$0.80R 13.42
$2.54Rp 44.0K
-68.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20R 20.21
$1.19Rp 20.6K
0.84%
Eggs
$2.20R 36.92
$2.43Rp 42.0K
-9.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.86R 81.6
$14.66Rp 254.1K
-66.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.47R 41.49
$4.18Rp 72.4K
-40.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.50R 58.8
$11.94Rp 206.9K
-70.69%
Apples(1kg)
$1.37R 22.92
$3.69Rp 63.9K
-62.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40R 23.55
$1.61Rp 27.8K
-13.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.23R 20.62
$2.69Rp 46.5K
-54.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.29R 21.68
$2.33Rp 40.4K
-44.64%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99R 16.62
$1.91Rp 33.0K
-48.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19R 19.95
$2.19Rp 37.9K
-45.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97R 16.33
$1.06Rp 18.3K
-8.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95R 15.97
$0.72Rp 12.5K
31.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.44R 24.23
$3.13Rp 54.3K
-53.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.60R 60.3
$23.49Rp 407.1K
-84.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93R 15.59
$2.74Rp 47.5K
-66.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37R 22.97
$2.88Rp 49.9K
-52.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.07R 17.89
$0.29Rp 5,029
268.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.17Rp 141.6K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71R 11.94
$0.45Rp 7,863
57.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58R 9.64
$0.42Rp 7,305
38.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.39R 73.6
$6.16Rp 106.7K
-28.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34R 22.40
$0.84Rp 14.6K
59.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1KR 336.6K
$26.2KRp 454.9M
-23.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5KR 411.3K
$32.5KRp 562.9M
-24.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146R 2,452
$78.4Rp 1.4M
86.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.77R 499
$3.95Rp 68.5K
653.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.93R 569
$24.40Rp 423.0K
39.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.19R 523
$96.5Rp 1.7M
-67.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.44R 57.7
$6.35Rp 110.0K
-45.83%
Cinema Ticket
$3.68R 61.8
$4.04Rp 70.0K
-8.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$206R 3,453
$303Rp 5.2M
-31.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,675R 78.4K
$6,523Rp 113.1M
-28.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.44R 695
$53.8Rp 933.1K
-23.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.51R 512
$37.98Rp 658.3K
-19.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.6R 1,603
$86.8Rp 1.5M
10.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.6R 1,201
$78.9Rp 1.4M
-9.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$369R 6,182
$1,012Rp 17.5M
-63.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$335R 5,625
$674Rp 11.7M
-50.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$694R 11.6K
$3,390Rp 58.8M
-79.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$684R 11.5K
$2,098Rp 36.4M
-67.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$534R 8,962
$2,985Rp 51.7M
-82.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$555R 9,310
$2,339Rp 40.5M
-76.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,517R 25.4K
$173Rp 3.0M
776.02%
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: April 28, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $369 in Margate and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Margate pays 776% 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 $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 57% 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 776% 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: $369 in Margate versus $1,012 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 $206 in Margate versus $303 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 $917 in Margate versus $1,438 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 $917 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 57% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.