Cost of Living Comparison Between Nara and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Nara and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,269 in Nara versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,902 in Nara versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,536 in Nara versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Nara costs roughly 10% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Nara is 5% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.92 ¥1,124
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
100.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.80 ¥5,654
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
7.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.65 ¥917
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
16.74%
Cappuccino
$3.12 ¥507
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
13.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 ¥184
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
-18.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ¥118
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
-2.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.37 ¥548
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
12.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 ¥493
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
-21.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.60 ¥260
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
-8.05%
White Bread (500g)
$1.42 ¥231
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
-42.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.81 ¥782
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
311.11%
Eggs
$2.43 ¥395
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.37 ¥1,686
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
-28.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.47 ¥1,051
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
48.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.42 ¥3,318
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
70.45%
Apples (1kg)
$3.50 ¥568
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
-5.91%
Banana (1kg)
$2.19 ¥355
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
34.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.61 ¥424
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
-4.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.40 ¥716
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
96.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.64 ¥266
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
-14.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 ¥202
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
-45.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 ¥224
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
30.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥136
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.53 ¥573
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
7.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.04 ¥1,469
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
-61.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 ¥349
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
-22.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ¥386
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
-12.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Nara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.19 ¥355
$0.27 Rp 4,786
711.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.7 ¥9,049
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
586.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.38 ¥549
$0.48 Rp 8,675
604.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.90 ¥470
$0.42 Rp 7,545
590.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.13 ¥2,782
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
175.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ¥199
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
51.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K ¥3.7M
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
-14.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.8K ¥2.7M
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
-47.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$131 ¥21.2K
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
66.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.56 ¥4,478
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
577.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.79 ¥4,840
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
22.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$80.9 ¥13.1K
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-17.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.17 ¥1,327
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
28.86%
Cinema Ticket
$12.27 ¥1,993
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
207.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$68.5 ¥11.1K
$305 Rp 5.5M
-77.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K ¥1.7M
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
58.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.58 ¥7,243
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
-17.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.03 ¥4,717
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
-23.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$56.8 ¥9,226
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
-34.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3 ¥14.7K
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
18.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ¥70.5K
$992 Rp 17.8M
-56.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$369 ¥60.0K
$673 Rp 12.1M
-45.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$623 ¥101.2K
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
-81.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$546 ¥88.7K
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
-73.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,685 ¥436.3K
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
-4.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,939 ¥315.0K
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
-12.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,119 ¥181.9K
$167 Rp 3.0M
570.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.78
13.28
-86.60%

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

Last update for Nara: July 11, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $434 in Nara and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nara pays 570% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35.00 in Nara vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $303 vs $297 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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
Nara vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Nara?
Nara is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Nara or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 570% higher in Nara, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Nara and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $434 in Nara versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Nara or in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Nara – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Nara and in Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $1,269 per month in Nara versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Nara or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,269 in Nara versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nara but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Nara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Nara or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Nara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Nara or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Nara 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Nara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% 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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