🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $390 in McLeod Ganj versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $613 in McLeod Ganj versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $835 in McLeod Ganj versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in McLeod Ganj costs roughly 73% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: McLeod Ganj is 71% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
McLeod Ganj
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.28₹216
$3.57Rp 61.6K
-36.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.29₹974
$32.58Rp 562.6K
-68.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.52₹333
$5.07Rp 87.5K
-30.57%
Cappuccino
$1.53₹145
$2.83Rp 48.8K
-45.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41₹38.57
$1.34Rp 23.1K
-69.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15₹13.98
$0.69Rp 12.0K
-78.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69₹160
$2.99Rp 51.6K
-43.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02₹286
$3.85Rp 66.4K
-21.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
McLeod Ganj
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.71₹67.3
$1.74Rp 30.1K
-59.20%
White Bread(500g)
$0.48₹45.51
$2.54Rp 43.8K
-81.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.67₹63.5
$1.19Rp 20.6K
-43.70%
Eggs
$0.95₹90.2
$2.43Rp 41.9K
-60.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.93₹467
$14.66Rp 253.2K
-66.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.93₹277
$4.18Rp 72.1K
-29.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$11.94Rp 206.1K
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.98₹188
$3.69Rp 63.6K
-46.34%
Banana(1kg)
$0.74₹69.7
$1.61Rp 27.7K
-54.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.02₹96.1
$2.69Rp 46.4K
-62.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.53₹50.5
$2.33Rp 40.2K
-77.25%
Potato(1kg)
$0.39₹36.57
$1.91Rp 32.9K
-79.58%
Onion(1kg)
$0.42₹40.17
$2.19Rp 37.7K
-80.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.45₹42.64
$1.06Rp 18.3K
-57.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32₹29.86
$0.72Rp 12.5K
-55.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00₹379
$3.13Rp 54.1K
27.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.17₹679
$23.49Rp 405.6K
-69.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76₹167
$2.74Rp 47.3K
-35.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89₹274
$2.88Rp 49.7K
0.35%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.53₹524
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
McLeod Ganj
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30₹28.40
$0.29Rp 5,010
3.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.57₹811
$8.17Rp 141.0K
4.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.84₹79.1
$0.45Rp 7,834
86.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27₹25.64
$0.42Rp 7,278
-35.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.47₹139
$6.16Rp 106.3K
-76.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16₹109
$0.84Rp 14.5K
38.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.1K₹1.3M
$26.2KRp 453.1M
-46.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K₹2.1M
$32.5KRp 560.8M
-32.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
McLeod Ganj
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.53₹3,645
$78.4Rp 1.4M
-50.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.58₹338
$3.95Rp 68.2K
-9.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.14₹675
$24.40Rp 421.4K
-70.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
McLeod Ganj
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.01₹1,514
$96.5Rp 1.7M
-83.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.13₹674
$6.35Rp 109.6K
12.28%
Cinema Ticket
$2.96₹280
$4.04Rp 69.7K
-26.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
McLeod Ganj
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$51.9₹4,913
$303Rp 5.2M
-82.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,514₹143.2K
$6,523Rp 112.6M
-76.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
McLeod Ganj
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.70₹2,242
$53.8Rp 929.5K
-55.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.70₹2,337
$37.98Rp 655.8K
-34.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$42.20₹3,993
$86.8Rp 1.5M
-51.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.13₹2,851
$78.9Rp 1.4M
-61.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
McLeod Ganj
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$122₹11.6K
$1,012Rp 17.5M
-87.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$75.7₹7,158
$674Rp 11.6M
-88.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$275₹26.0K
$3,390Rp 58.5M
-91.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$184₹17.4K
$2,098Rp 36.2M
-91.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,060₹100.3K
$2,985Rp 51.5M
-64.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$597₹56.5K
$2,339Rp 40.4M
-74.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
McLeod Ganj
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$173Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.67
13.28
-34.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for McLeod Ganj: April 26, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in McLeod Ganj and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $10.00 in McLeod Ganj vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $105 vs $298 per month, with McLeod Ganj 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
McLeod Ganj vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in McLeod Ganj and Ubud, Bali?
McLeod Ganj and Ubud, Bali differ by about 269% in total monthly costs ($390 vs $1,438 including rent). McLeod Ganj is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in McLeod Ganj compared to Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $585 in McLeod Ganj and $2,158 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in McLeod Ganj and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $122 in McLeod Ganj versus $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in McLeod Ganj – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: McLeod Ganj or Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $390 per month in McLeod Ganj versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali – a 269% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $390 in McLeod Ganj versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in McLeod Ganj but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes McLeod Ganj the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between McLeod Ganj and Ubud, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is McLeod Ganj or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, McLeod Ganj 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.
Where should expats move: McLeod Ganj or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find McLeod Ganj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 269% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
McLeod Ganj vs other spots: cost of living compared