🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $925 in Margate versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,456 in Margate versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,987 in Margate versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Margate costs roughly 32% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Margate is 32% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.72R 125
$3.44Rp 61.0K
124.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.09R 619
$36.31Rp 644.2K
4.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.34R 103
$5.71Rp 101.2K
11.03%
Cappuccino
$1.87R 30.37
$2.67Rp 47.4K
-29.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12R 18.15
$1.75Rp 31.0K
-36.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79R 12.89
$0.87Rp 15.5K
-9.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.45R 39.76
$2.95Rp 52.4K
-16.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33R 37.85
$4.52Rp 80.2K
-48.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05R 17.08
$1.62Rp 28.7K
-35.19%
White Bread(500g)
$0.94R 15.29
$2.33Rp 41.3K
-59.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16R 18.82
$1.11Rp 19.6K
4.50%
Eggs
$2.53R 41.17
$2.20Rp 39.0K
15.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.39R 87.6
$17.69Rp 313.9K
-69.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.60R 58.5
$4.10Rp 72.7K
-12.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.06R 98.4
$12.18Rp 216.0K
-50.25%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20R 19.57
$3.71Rp 65.8K
-67.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29R 20.90
$1.59Rp 28.2K
-18.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.10R 17.91
$2.28Rp 40.5K
-51.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50R 24.38
$1.95Rp 34.7K
-23.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.12R 18.22
$1.91Rp 33.8K
-41.36%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35R 22.00
$2.33Rp 41.4K
-42.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14R 18.60
$1.01Rp 17.9K
12.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00R 16.26
$0.55Rp 9,791
81.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.74R 28.28
$2.23Rp 39.6K
-21.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.75R 61.0
$23.07Rp 409.3K
-83.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49R 24.29
$2.42Rp 42.9K
-38.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91R 30.98
$3.00Rp 53.2K
-36.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.51R 24.60
$0.27Rp 4,823
459.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.98Rp 159.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48R 7.85
$0.48Rp 8,582
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.77R 12.45
$0.43Rp 7,693
79.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.03R 131
$5.64Rp 100.1K
42.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.41R 22.93
$0.80Rp 14.3K
76.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8KR 597.4K
$24.9KRp 442.5M
47.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4KR 542.4K
$31.7KRp 562.6M
5.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.6R 1,034
$81.5Rp 1.4M
-21.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.81R 306
$6.49Rp 115.2K
189.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.67R 563
$18.77Rp 333.0K
84.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.97R 536
$56.9Rp 1.0M
-42.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.73Rp 332.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.33R 70.4
$4.54Rp 80.5K
-4.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$332R 5,395
$481Rp 8.5M
-30.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,964R 129.4K
$5,711Rp 101.3M
39.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3R 915
$45.52Rp 807.5K
23.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.63R 303
$35.88Rp 636.6K
-48.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.6R 1,212
$80.4Rp 1.4M
-7.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.7R 824
$78.7Rp 1.4M
-35.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$425R 6,900
$1,115Rp 19.8M
-61.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$372R 6,051
$698Rp 12.4M
-46.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$788R 12.8K
$3,637Rp 64.5M
-78.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789R 12.8K
$1,737Rp 30.8M
-54.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$887R 14.4K
$2,784Rp 49.4M
-68.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$702R 11.4K
$2,290Rp 40.6M
-69.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Margate
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,556R 25.3K
$168Rp 3.0M
826.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.81
13.78
-14.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Margate: September 12, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $425 in Margate and $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Margate pays 826% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Margate vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $154 vs $295, with Margate 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
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 48% 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 826% 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: $425 in Margate versus $1,115 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 $332 in Margate versus $481 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 $38.00 versus $36.00 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 $925 in Margate versus $1,368 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 $925 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 48% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.