🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $744 in Monteria versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,159 in Monteria versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,574 in Monteria versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Monteria costs roughly 48% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Monteria is 44% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monteria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.96COP 17.9K
$3.57Rp 61.9K
38.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.80COP 114.8K
$32.58Rp 564.7K
-2.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.42COP 26.8K
$5.07Rp 87.8K
46.35%
Cappuccino
$1.69COP 6,110
$2.83Rp 49.0K
-40.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,272
$1.34Rp 23.2K
-32.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63COP 2,289
$0.69Rp 12.0K
-8.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.37COP 4,936
$2.99Rp 51.8K
-54.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96COP 7,065
$3.85Rp 66.7K
-49.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monteria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,389
$1.74Rp 30.2K
-45.98%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COP 4,641
$2.54Rp 44.0K
-49.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.07COP 3,855
$1.19Rp 20.6K
-10.08%
Eggs
$1.42COP 5,138
$2.43Rp 42.0K
-41.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.47COP 16.1K
$14.66Rp 254.1K
-69.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.87COP 10.4K
$4.18Rp 72.4K
-31.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.82COP 13.8K
$11.94Rp 206.9K
-68.01%
Apples(1kg)
$1.98COP 7,148
$3.69Rp 63.9K
-46.34%
Banana(1kg)
$0.50COP 1,794
$1.61Rp 27.8K
-68.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92COP 3,335
$2.69Rp 46.5K
-65.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.79COP 2,852
$2.33Rp 40.4K
-66.09%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97COP 3,502
$1.91Rp 33.0K
-49.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.01COP 3,642
$2.19Rp 37.9K
-53.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88COP 3,159
$1.06Rp 18.3K
-16.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47COP 1,695
$0.72Rp 12.5K
-34.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.85COP 10.3K
$3.13Rp 54.3K
-8.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.05COP 36.3K
$23.49Rp 407.1K
-57.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 3,261
$2.74Rp 47.5K
-67.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,739
$2.88Rp 49.9K
-54.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Monteria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68COP 2,466
$0.29Rp 5,029
134.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.85COP 107.8K
$8.17Rp 141.6K
265.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.91COP 6,896
$0.45Rp 7,863
324.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.87COP 10.4K
$0.42Rp 7,305
583.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.32COP 15.6K
$6.16Rp 106.7K
-29.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,578
$0.84Rp 14.6K
17.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.2KCOP 51.2M
$26.2KRp 454.9M
-45.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2KCOP 80.2M
$32.5KRp 562.9M
-31.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monteria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$95.6COP 345.2K
$78.4Rp 1.4M
21.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.40COP 26.7K
$3.95Rp 68.5K
87.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.45COP 70.2K
$24.40Rp 423.0K
-20.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monteria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.63COP 85.3K
$96.5Rp 1.7M
-75.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.90COP 35.8K
$6.35Rp 110.0K
55.91%
Cinema Ticket
$3.94COP 14.2K
$4.04Rp 70.0K
-2.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monteria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$169COP 609.8K
$303Rp 5.2M
-44.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,846COP 6.7M
$6,523Rp 113.1M
-71.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monteria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.5COP 218.5K
$53.8Rp 933.1K
12.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.73COP 71.2K
$37.98Rp 658.3K
-48.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.3COP 221.3K
$86.8Rp 1.5M
-29.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.71COP 132.5K
$78.9Rp 1.4M
-53.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monteria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$284COP 1.0M
$1,012Rp 17.5M
-71.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237COP 855.8K
$674Rp 11.7M
-64.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$530COP 1.9M
$3,390Rp 58.8M
-84.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$424COP 1.5M
$2,098Rp 36.4M
-79.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,556COP 5.6M
$2,985Rp 51.7M
-47.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,362COP 4.9M
$2,339Rp 40.5M
-41.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monteria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$359COP 1.3M
$173Rp 3.0M
107.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10
13.28
-24.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Monteria: April 27, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Monteria and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Monteria pays 107% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Monteria vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $133 vs $298 per month, with Monteria 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
Monteria vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Monteria or Ubud, Bali?
Monteria wins on cost – living expenses run 93% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Monteria the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Monteria or Ubud, Bali?
Monteria pays 107% more on average, 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 Monteria vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $284 in Monteria versus $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Monteria and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $169 in Monteria versus $303 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Monteria or Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 123% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Monteria or Ubud, Bali?
At $744 in Monteria versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Monteria but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Monteria the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Monteria or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Monteria delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $744 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Monteria hard to pass up.
How safe is Monteria compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Monteria 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 Monteria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.