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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,442 in Nikaia versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,183 in Nikaia versus $2,327 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,924 in Nikaia versus $3,275 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Nikaia is roughly 5% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nikaia 5% above, Ubud, Bali 0% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nikaia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.55 €9.96
$3.33 Rp 58.7K
246.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2 €54.5
$35.82 Rp 630.7K
76.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.32 €8.03
$5.63 Rp 99.1K
65.54%
Cappuccino
$4.13 €3.56
$2.82 Rp 49.7K
46.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 €2.11
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
40.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 €0.50
$0.80 Rp 14.0K
-27.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.70 €4.05
$3.04 Rp 53.6K
54.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.21 €4.49
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
21.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nikaia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 €1.45
$1.61 Rp 28.3K
4.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 €1.25
$2.27 Rp 39.9K
-36.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.48 €2.14
$1.17 Rp 20.6K
111.97%
Eggs
$4.86 €4.19
$2.17 Rp 38.2K
123.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.84 €10.21
$17.63 Rp 310.5K
-32.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.06 €8.67
$4.05 Rp 71.4K
148.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.00 €12.93
$12.18 Rp 214.5K
23.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.04
$3.62 Rp 63.7K
-34.53%
Banana (1kg)
$2.23 €1.92
$1.64 Rp 28.8K
35.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 €1.53
$2.31 Rp 40.6K
-22.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.96 €1.69
$1.96 Rp 34.5K
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 €1.01
$1.84 Rp 32.5K
-36.41%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 €1.01
$2.37 Rp 41.7K
-50.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 €0.99
$1.05 Rp 18.5K
9.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 €0.74
$0.54 Rp 9,560
59.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.30 €4.57
$2.30 Rp 40.6K
130.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.94 €5.99
$23.08 Rp 406.4K
-69.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 €1.91
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
-5.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 €2.55
$3.07 Rp 54.0K
-3.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Nikaia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.67 €0.58
$0.25 Rp 4,365
168.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.53 €27.18
$9.42 Rp 165.9K
234.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.61 €3.97
$0.49 Rp 8,631
840.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.15 €0.99
$0.47 Rp 8,349
144.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.40 €12.41
$5.60 Rp 98.6K
157.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.23 €1.92
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
175.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K €25.0K
$25.0K Rp 440.3M
15.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K €20.9K
$31.1K Rp 547.0M
-22.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nikaia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$221 €191
$82.7 Rp 1.5M
167.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.40 €21.90
$6.49 Rp 114.2K
291.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.78 €27.40
$18.79 Rp 330.8K
69.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nikaia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.5 €44.38
$55.2 Rp 972.6K
-6.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.62 €22.09
$18.21 Rp 320.6K
40.69%
Cinema Ticket
$9.13 €7.87
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
112.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nikaia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$598 €516
$494 Rp 8.7M
21.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.3K €8,908
$5,917 Rp 104.2M
74.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nikaia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.2 €61.4
$46.28 Rp 814.8K
53.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.50 €31.46
$36.44 Rp 641.6K
0.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.2 €69.1
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
-0.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 €115
$78.8 Rp 1.4M
69.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nikaia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$498 €429
$1,114 Rp 19.6M
-55.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$408 €351
$693 Rp 12.2M
-41.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$769 €663
$3,639 Rp 64.1M
-78.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$666 €574
$1,712 Rp 30.1M
-61.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,897 €2,497
$2,761 Rp 48.6M
4.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,380 €2,051
$2,293 Rp 40.4M
3.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nikaia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$167 Rp 2.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.36
13.78
-68.36%

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

Last update for Nikaia: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $498 in Nikaia and $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $63.0 in Nikaia vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $285 vs $294, with Nikaia 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
Nikaia vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Nikaia?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,163 in Nikaia and $2,067 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Nikaia and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $498 in Nikaia versus $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Nikaia and in Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $1,442 per month in Nikaia versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 235% less than in Nikaia. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Nikaia or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,442 in Nikaia, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Nikaia. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Nikaia or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Nikaia, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Nikaia or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Nikaia 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 Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Nikaia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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