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