🙂A single person spends $996 per month in Nelspruit vs $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,584 per month in Nelspruit vs $2,549 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,172 per month in Nelspruit vs $3,694 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
🙂Nelspruit is about 29% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Nelspruit sits 26% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nelspruit
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.39R 184
$3.57Rp 64.0K
219.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.43R 718
$32.50Rp 582.3K
36.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.54R 57.2
$4.86Rp 87.1K
-27.16%
Cappuccino
$1.94R 31.37
$2.75Rp 49.2K
-29.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03R 16.63
$1.32Rp 23.7K
-21.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82R 13.19
$0.70Rp 12.6K
17.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.49R 24.02
$2.91Rp 52.2K
-48.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53R 40.93
$3.79Rp 68.0K
-33.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nelspruit
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19R 19.16
$1.71Rp 30.6K
-30.41%
White Bread(500g)
$0.90R 14.55
$2.47Rp 44.3K
-63.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01R 16.38
$1.20Rp 21.5K
-15.83%
Eggs
$2.04R 32.98
$2.44Rp 43.8K
-16.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.47R 137
$14.38Rp 257.7K
-41.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.96R 64.0
$4.31Rp 77.1K
-8.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.53R 106
$12.21Rp 218.7K
-46.52%
Apples(1kg)
$1.49R 24.16
$3.68Rp 66.0K
-59.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11R 18.00
$1.55Rp 27.8K
-28.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.69R 11.12
$2.79Rp 49.9K
-75.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.66R 26.85
$2.33Rp 41.8K
-28.76%
Potato(1kg)
$0.54R 8.74
$1.97Rp 35.3K
-72.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19R 19.32
$2.31Rp 41.4K
-48.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08R 17.49
$1.06Rp 19.1K
1.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90R 14.56
$0.73Rp 13.1K
23.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54R 41.12
$3.28Rp 58.8K
-22.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.68R 59.6
$22.79Rp 408.4K
-83.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.86R 13.93
$2.81Rp 50.3K
-69.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47R 23.77
$2.78Rp 49.9K
-47.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Nelspruit
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.63R 26.39
$0.29Rp 5,217
462.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.06Rp 144.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.09R 17.60
$0.45Rp 8,047
142.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.94R 15.20
$0.45Rp 8,094
108.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.22R 35.85
$6.24Rp 111.7K
-64.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28R 20.64
$0.85Rp 15.2K
50.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.6KR 365.5K
$26.0KRp 465.4M
-12.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0KR 388.3K
$31.7KRp 567.2M
-24.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nelspruit
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$118R 1,911
$80.8Rp 1.4M
46.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.64R 657
$4.06Rp 72.7K
900.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.02R 534
$24.42Rp 437.6K
35.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nelspruit
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.33R 507
$97.7Rp 1.7M
-67.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.45Rp 115.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.96R 64.0
$4.04Rp 72.4K
-1.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nelspruit
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$167R 2,706
$304Rp 5.4M
-44.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,816R 77.9K
$6,621Rp 118.6M
-27.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nelspruit
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6R 818
$54.2Rp 971.7K
-6.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.23R 537
$38.78Rp 694.7K
-14.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.9R 1,486
$86.1Rp 1.5M
6.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.2R 1,248
$76.7Rp 1.4M
0.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nelspruit
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$369R 5,961
$986Rp 17.7M
-62.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$330R 5,328
$658Rp 11.8M
-49.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$675R 10.9K
$3,369Rp 60.4M
-79.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$693R 11.2K
$2,066Rp 37.0M
-66.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,741Rp 49.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,228Rp 39.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nelspruit
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$163Rp 2.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.51
13.28
-13.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nelspruit: June 7, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $369 in Nelspruit versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Nelspruit versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $157 in Nelspruit vs $297 in Ubud, Bali – so Nelspruit wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Nelspruit vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nelspruit or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali costs about 41% more than Nelspruit, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Nelspruit vs Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,494 per month in Nelspruit and $2,106 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Nelspruit or Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nelspruit, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Nelspruit compared to Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $996 in Nelspruit and $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Nelspruit and Ubud, Bali?
Kindergarten costs $167 per month in Nelspruit and $304 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Nelspruit or Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nelspruit, where all-in costs run around $996, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In Nelspruit it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nelspruit or Ubud, Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nelspruit costs $996 versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Nelspruit compared to Ubud, Bali?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Nelspruit or Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Nelspruit. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.