Cost of Living Comparison Between McLean, VA and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between McLean, VA and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,893 per month in McLean, VA vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,482 per month in McLean, VA vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,072 per month in McLean, VA vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

McLean, VA costs about 104% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both McLean, VA and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – McLean, VA by 116%, Ubud, Bali by 6%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.03 $18.03

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

406.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.0 $60.0

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

83.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.24 $12.24

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

147.27%

Cappuccino

$5.41 $5.41

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

99.63%

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

$2.07 $2.07

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

54.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

117.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.32 $6.32

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

116.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.53 $7.53

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

90.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

-36.46%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

40.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

119.83%

Eggs

$4.93 $4.93

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

100.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.41 $17.41

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

18.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.16 $10.16

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

135.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.79 $19.79

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

63.01%

Apples (1kg)

$7.06 $7.06

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

83.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

8.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.21 $8.21

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

190.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.99 $7.99

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

242.92%

Potato (1kg)

$4.81 $4.81

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

151.83%

Onion (1kg)

$3.60 $3.60

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

63.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

177.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

25.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.92 $7.92

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

138.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.03 $16.03

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

-32.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

-39.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

30.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.49 $2.49

$0.27 Rp 4,819

822.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 $4.47

$0.46 Rp 8,181

871.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.45 Rp 8,068

202.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.05 $29.05

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

376.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

10.13%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

0.48%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

-21.95%

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

$214 $214

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

167.86%

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

$52.9 $52.9

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

1203.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.0 $61.0

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

159.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$91.1 $91.1

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-7.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

Cinema Ticket

$15.14 $15.14

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

264.82%

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

$1,928 $1,928

$304 Rp 5.4M

534.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.2K $56.2K

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

749.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.05 $48.05

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

-13.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.08 $48.08

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

25.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.5 $70.5

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

-20.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.1 $66.1

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

-15.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,820 $2,820

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

180.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,626 $1,626

$675 Rp 12.1M

140.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,749 $3,749

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

8.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,205 $3,205

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

57.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,794 $5,794

$165 Rp 3.0M

3406.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

13.28

-51.36%

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

Last update for McLean, VA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,820 in McLean, VA versus $1,006 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 3406% higher in McLean, VA, 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 $60.0 in McLean, VA versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $450 vs $302 – 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

McLean, VA vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,893 in McLean, VA, $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 104% apart. McLean, VA costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,339 per month in McLean, VA and $2,129 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,893 in McLean, VA and $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,928 per month in McLean, VA and $304 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 $1,419, than in McLean, VA at $2,893. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in McLean, VA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,419 in Ubud, Bali to $2,893 in McLean, VA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, McLean, VA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.