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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $952 in Neum versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,490 in Neum versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,027 in Neum versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Neum costs roughly 32% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Neum is 29% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Neum
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.60 BAM 14.71
$3.45 Rp 62.0K
149.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.64 BAM 71.2
$32.34 Rp 580.1K
28.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.53 BAM 12.88
$4.84 Rp 86.9K
55.58%
Cappuccino
$1.65 BAM 2.82
$2.75 Rp 49.3K
-40.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 BAM 3.45
$1.38 Rp 24.8K
46.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 BAM 1.96
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
53.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.08 BAM 3.55
$2.99 Rp 53.7K
-30.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 BAM 4.76
$3.85 Rp 69.1K
-27.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Neum
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 BAM 2.28
$1.74 Rp 31.1K
-22.99%
White Bread (500g)
$1.28 BAM 2.19
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
-47.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 BAM 2.70
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
35.04%
Eggs
$2.95 BAM 5.05
$2.43 Rp 43.6K
21.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.25 BAM 15.82
$14.50 Rp 260.2K
-36.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.51 BAM 14.56
$4.35 Rp 78.0K
95.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.70 BAM 20.01
$11.98 Rp 214.9K
-2.34%
Apples (1kg)
$1.44 BAM 2.45
$3.72 Rp 66.7K
-61.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 BAM 2.80
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
0.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 BAM 3.32
$2.74 Rp 49.2K
-29.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.01 BAM 3.45
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
-10.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.16 BAM 1.98
$1.92 Rp 34.4K
-39.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 BAM 1.89
$2.28 Rp 40.8K
-51.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 BAM 1.97
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
8.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 BAM 1.21
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
-1.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.78 BAM 6.47
$3.29 Rp 58.9K
14.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.04 BAM 6.91
$23.19 Rp 416.1K
-82.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 BAM 1.22
$2.78 Rp 49.8K
-74.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 BAM 1.85
$2.73 Rp 49.0K
-60.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Neum
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.82 BAM 3.11
$0.27 Rp 4,778
574.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.23 BAM 60.3
$8.11 Rp 145.4K
334.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.43 BAM 2.45
$0.48 Rp 8,659
197.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 BAM 1.86
$0.42 Rp 7,532
159.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.24 BAM 12.38
$6.22 Rp 111.6K
16.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 BAM 2.53
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
82.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K BAM 48.2K
$26.6K Rp 477.4M
5.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K BAM 44.7K
$32.2K Rp 577.4M
-18.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Neum
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$174 BAM 298
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
122.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.43 BAM 33.23
$4.07 Rp 73.0K
377.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.03 BAM 41.10
$24.33 Rp 436.4K
-1.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Neum
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.92 BAM 51.2
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-69.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.09 BAM 18.97
$6.34 Rp 113.7K
74.92%
Cinema Ticket
$4.67 BAM 7.99
$3.99 Rp 71.5K
17.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Neum
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 BAM 354
$305 Rp 5.5M
-32.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,694 BAM 6,319
$6,642 Rp 119.2M
-44.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Neum
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.3 BAM 120
$54.1 Rp 971.2K
29.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.78 BAM 62.9
$37.81 Rp 678.2K
-2.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.8 BAM 150
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
1.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 BAM 195
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
49.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Neum
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$262 BAM 448
$992 Rp 17.8M
-73.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$167 BAM 285
$673 Rp 12.1M
-75.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$363 BAM 621
$3,375 Rp 60.5M
-89.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$314 BAM 537
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
-84.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,490 BAM 4,259
$2,805 Rp 50.3M
-11.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,817 BAM 3,107
$2,227 Rp 39.9M
-18.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Neum
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$877 BAM 1,500
$167 Rp 3.0M
425.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.9
13.28
-78.16%

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

Last update for Neum: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in Neum and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Neum pays 425% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $42.00 in Neum vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $217 vs $297, with Neum cheaper for home cooking.

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
Neum vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Neum and in Ubud, Bali?
Neum and Ubud, Bali differ by about 48% in total monthly costs ($952 vs $1,408 including rent). Neum is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Neum or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 425% higher in Neum, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Neum and in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $262 in Neum versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Neum and in Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Neum runs roughly 334% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Neum and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $207 in Neum versus $305 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $952 in Neum versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Neum but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Neum the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Neum 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 Neum or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Neum 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: Neum or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Neum gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% 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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