🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $769 in Monteria versus $1,394 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,173 in Monteria versus $2,551 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,578 in Monteria versus $3,708 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Monteria costs roughly 45% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Monteria is 42% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monteria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.79COP 16.4K
$3.40Rp 60.2K
40.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.89COP 105.9K
$32.38Rp 573.6K
-4.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.40COP 25.4K
$5.00Rp 88.6K
48.00%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,878
$2.82Rp 50.0K
-39.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85COP 2,915
$1.38Rp 24.4K
-38.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64COP 2,203
$0.73Rp 13.0K
-12.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.31COP 4,480
$2.98Rp 52.8K
-56.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,562
$3.97Rp 70.3K
-51.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monteria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.92COP 3,139
$1.79Rp 31.8K
-48.60%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,501
$2.46Rp 43.7K
-46.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02COP 3,481
$1.20Rp 21.2K
-15.00%
Eggs
$1.49COP 5,099
$2.39Rp 42.3K
-37.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.55COP 15.6K
$14.40Rp 255.1K
-68.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.83COP 9,692
$4.28Rp 75.9K
-33.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.91COP 13.4K
$11.82Rp 209.4K
-66.92%
Apples(1kg)
$1.92COP 6,570
$3.78Rp 67.0K
-49.21%
Banana(1kg)
$0.50COP 1,727
$1.63Rp 28.9K
-69.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.01COP 3,466
$2.80Rp 49.6K
-63.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.79COP 2,697
$2.26Rp 40.0K
-65.04%
Potato(1kg)
$0.96COP 3,296
$2.00Rp 35.3K
-52.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00COP 3,442
$2.21Rp 39.2K
-54.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.82COP 2,819
$1.07Rp 18.9K
-23.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47COP 1,596
$0.76Rp 13.5K
-38.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.75COP 9,439
$3.13Rp 55.4K
-12.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.11COP 34.6K
$23.81Rp 421.9K
-57.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,124
$2.84Rp 50.3K
-67.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,496
$2.78Rp 49.2K
-52.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Monteria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68COP 2,316
$0.27Rp 4,726
151.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.16COP 103.4K
$8.37Rp 148.2K
260.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.91COP 6,532
$0.45Rp 8,034
324.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.96COP 10.1K
$0.43Rp 7,578
588.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.41COP 15.1K
$5.98Rp 105.9K
-26.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.98COP 3,363
$0.80Rp 14.2K
22.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.1KCOP 48.3M
$25.8KRp 457.2M
-45.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3KCOP 76.4M
$31.8KRp 563.4M
-29.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monteria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$96.2COP 329.8K
$80.7Rp 1.4M
19.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.18COP 24.6K
$4.14Rp 73.3K
73.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.05COP 65.3K
$24.12Rp 427.2K
-21.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monteria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.36COP 80.1K
$97.8Rp 1.7M
-76.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.91COP 34.0K
$6.64Rp 117.7K
49.25%
Cinema Ticket
$3.79COP 13.0K
$4.04Rp 71.5K
-6.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monteria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$166COP 570.2K
$297Rp 5.3M
-44.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,825COP 6.3M
$6,590Rp 116.7M
-72.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monteria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.6COP 207.7K
$55.1Rp 976.8K
9.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.29COP 66.1K
$38.51Rp 682.1K
-49.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.1COP 205.9K
$86.1Rp 1.5M
-30.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.81COP 122.7K
$78.0Rp 1.4M
-54.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monteria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$287COP 984.1K
$985Rp 17.5M
-70.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$236COP 810.5K
$665Rp 11.8M
-64.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$525COP 1.8M
$3,446Rp 61.0M
-84.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$431COP 1.5M
$2,042Rp 36.2M
-78.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,747COP 6.0M
$2,829Rp 50.1M
-38.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,281COP 4.4M
$2,282Rp 40.4M
-43.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monteria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$375COP 1.3M
$169Rp 3.0M
121.47%
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: June 13, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $287 in Monteria and $985 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Monteria pays 121% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $31.00 in Monteria vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $134 vs $299 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 81% 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 121% 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: $287 in Monteria versus $985 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 $166 in Monteria versus $297 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 124% 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 $769 in Monteria versus $1,394 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 $769 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 81% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.