Cost of Living Comparison Between McLeod Ganj and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between McLeod Ganj and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$3.57 Rp 61.6K
-36.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.29 ₹974
$32.58 Rp 562.6K
-68.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.52 ₹333
$5.07 Rp 87.5K
-30.57%
Cappuccino
$1.53 ₹145
$2.83 Rp 48.8K
-45.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 ₹38.57
$1.34 Rp 23.1K
-69.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15 ₹13.98
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
-78.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 ₹160
$2.99 Rp 51.6K
-43.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 ₹286
$3.85 Rp 66.4K
-21.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
McLeod Ganj
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.71 ₹67.3
$1.74 Rp 30.1K
-59.20%
White Bread (500g)
$0.48 ₹45.51
$2.54 Rp 43.8K
-81.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.67 ₹63.5
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
-43.70%
Eggs
$0.95 ₹90.2
$2.43 Rp 41.9K
-60.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.93 ₹467
$14.66 Rp 253.2K
-66.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.93 ₹277
$4.18 Rp 72.1K
-29.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$11.94 Rp 206.1K
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.98 ₹188
$3.69 Rp 63.6K
-46.34%
Banana (1kg)
$0.74 ₹69.7
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
-54.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.02 ₹96.1
$2.69 Rp 46.4K
-62.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.53 ₹50.5
$2.33 Rp 40.2K
-77.25%
Potato (1kg)
$0.39 ₹36.57
$1.91 Rp 32.9K
-79.58%
Onion (1kg)
$0.42 ₹40.17
$2.19 Rp 37.7K
-80.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.45 ₹42.64
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
-57.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32 ₹29.86
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
-55.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00 ₹379
$3.13 Rp 54.1K
27.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.17 ₹679
$23.49 Rp 405.6K
-69.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ₹167
$2.74 Rp 47.3K
-35.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 ₹274
$2.88 Rp 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
$0.29 Rp 5,010
3.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.57 ₹811
$8.17 Rp 141.0K
4.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 ₹79.1
$0.45 Rp 7,834
86.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 ₹25.64
$0.42 Rp 7,278
-35.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 ₹139
$6.16 Rp 106.3K
-76.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ₹109
$0.84 Rp 14.5K
38.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.1K ₹1.3M
$26.2K Rp 453.1M
-46.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K ₹2.1M
$32.5K Rp 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
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-50.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.58 ₹338
$3.95 Rp 68.2K
-9.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.14 ₹675
$24.40 Rp 421.4K
-70.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
McLeod Ganj
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.01 ₹1,514
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-83.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.13 ₹674
$6.35 Rp 109.6K
12.28%
Cinema Ticket
$2.96 ₹280
$4.04 Rp 69.7K
-26.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
McLeod Ganj
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$51.9 ₹4,913
$303 Rp 5.2M
-82.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,514 ₹143.2K
$6,523 Rp 112.6M
-76.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
McLeod Ganj
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.70 ₹2,242
$53.8 Rp 929.5K
-55.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.70 ₹2,337
$37.98 Rp 655.8K
-34.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$42.20 ₹3,993
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
-51.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.13 ₹2,851
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
-61.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
McLeod Ganj
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$122 ₹11.6K
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
-87.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$75.7 ₹7,158
$674 Rp 11.6M
-88.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$275 ₹26.0K
$3,390 Rp 58.5M
-91.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$184 ₹17.4K
$2,098 Rp 36.2M
-91.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,060 ₹100.3K
$2,985 Rp 51.5M
-64.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$597 ₹56.5K
$2,339 Rp 40.4M
-74.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
McLeod Ganj
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$173 Rp 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.

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