Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between McLeod Ganj and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in McLeod Ganj: $384 a month against $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $11,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

McLeod Ganj
🇮🇳 India
$384
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in McLeod Ganj and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in McLeod Ganj and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $384 in McLeod Ganj versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.

  • McLeod Ganj $384
  • Ubud, Bali $1,368

Estimated couple costs with rent: $610 in McLeod Ganj versus $2,314 in Ubud, Bali.

  • McLeod Ganj $610
  • Ubud, Bali $2,314

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $836 in McLeod Ganj versus $3,260 in Ubud, Bali.

  • McLeod Ganj $836
  • Ubud, Bali $3,260

Living in McLeod Ganj costs roughly 72% less than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: McLeod Ganj is 72% below, Ubud, Bali is 1% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
McLeod Ganj
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.27 ₹215
$3.33 Rp 59.9K
-31.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.66 ₹1,012
$35.18 Rp 633.2K
-69.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.48 ₹330
$5.80 Rp 104.5K
-40.00%
Cappuccino
$1.58 ₹150
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
-42.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 ₹35.76
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
-76.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18 ₹16.92
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
-78.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.76 ₹167
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
-34.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12 ₹297
$4.30 Rp 77.4K
-27.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
McLeod Ganj
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.66 ₹62.4
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
-56.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.48 ₹45.99
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
-79.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.70 ₹66.8
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
-40.68%
Eggs
$0.93 ₹88.5
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
-56.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.04 ₹479
$17.48 Rp 314.6K
-71.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.92 ₹277
$4.03 Rp 72.5K
-27.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$12.23 Rp 220.1K
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.00 ₹190
$3.55 Rp 63.9K
-43.66%
Banana (1kg)
$0.74 ₹70.4
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
-52.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.95 ₹90.1
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
-57.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.50 ₹47.13
$1.93 Rp 34.7K
-74.09%
Potato (1kg)
$0.38 ₹36.49
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
-79.79%
Onion (1kg)
$0.43 ₹40.81
$2.29 Rp 41.3K
-81.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.45 ₹42.60
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
-54.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34 ₹32.58
$0.53 Rp 9,475
-35.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.04 ₹383
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
77.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.58 ₹719
$23.01 Rp 414.2K
-67.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 ₹162
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
-26.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 ₹268
$2.91 Rp 52.4K
-2.75%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.42 ₹514
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
McLeod Ganj
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 ₹28.49
$0.24 Rp 4,315
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.67 ₹823
$8.82 Rp 158.7K
-1.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₹73.3
$0.48 Rp 8,684
60.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 ₹25.77
$0.46 Rp 8,233
-41.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 ₹136
$5.45 Rp 98.2K
-73.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ₹110
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
31.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.8K ₹1.3M
$24.6K Rp 442.2M
-43.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1K ₹2.1M
$31.2K Rp 561.4M
-29.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
McLeod Ganj
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.36 ₹3,642
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
-53.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.51 ₹334
$6.45 Rp 116.0K
-45.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.19 ₹683
$18.57 Rp 334.2K
-61.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
McLeod Ganj
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.22 ₹1,540
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
-70.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.13 ₹677
$18.11 Rp 326.0K
-60.63%
Cinema Ticket
$2.97 ₹282
$4.38 Rp 78.9K
-32.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
McLeod Ganj
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$50.8 ₹4,823
$493 Rp 8.9M
-89.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,523 ₹144.6K
$5,754 Rp 103.6M
-73.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
McLeod Ganj
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.96 ₹2,275
$46.19 Rp 831.4K
-48.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.03 ₹2,377
$35.33 Rp 636.0K
-29.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$42.59 ₹4,044
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
-46.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.87 ₹2,932
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-60.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
McLeod Ganj
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$123 ₹11.7K
$1,142 Rp 20.6M
-89.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$75.6 ₹7,176
$676 Rp 12.2M
-88.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$277 ₹26.3K
$3,503 Rp 63.1M
-92.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$178 ₹16.9K
$1,700 Rp 30.6M
-89.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,041 ₹98.8K
$2,784 Rp 50.1M
-62.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$598 ₹56.8K
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
-73.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
McLeod Ganj
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$165 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.67
13.78
-37.08%

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

Last update for McLeod Ganj: October 11, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
McLeod Ganj
$106
Ubud, Bali
$290 175% $185
Accommodation & Living
McLeod Ganj
$76
Ubud, Bali
$676 794% $600
Eating Out
McLeod Ganj
$65
Ubud, Bali
$109 67.8% $44
Clothing & Footwear
McLeod Ganj
$55
Ubud, Bali
$108 95.2% $52
Monthly Utilities & Internet
McLeod Ganj
$49
Ubud, Bali
$108 120% $59
Sport & Entertainment
McLeod Ganj
$22
Ubud, Bali
$65 191% $42
Getting Around
McLeod Ganj
$12
Ubud, Bali
$13 4.6% $0.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $123 in McLeod Ganj and $1,142 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in McLeod Ganj vs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $106 vs $290 per month, with McLeod Ganj cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇳 McLeod Ganj
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
01:05 1:05 AM
03:35 3:35 AM
2 h 30 min ahead of McLeod Ganj
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
11,000
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to INR – Indian Rupee Converter

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 94.96 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 107 INR (1,000 INR = 9.37 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • McLeod Ganj Ubud, Bali 6,130 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • McLeod Ganj
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 in Ubud, Bali?
McLeod Ganj and Ubud, Bali differ by about 256% in total monthly costs ($384 vs $1,368 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 $577 in McLeod Ganj and $2,051 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $123 in McLeod Ganj versus $1,142 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 $11.00 versus $35.00 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 $384 per month in McLeod Ganj versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali – a 256% 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 $384 in McLeod Ganj versus $1,368 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 256% 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

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