Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ninh Binh and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Ninh Binh: $734 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $7,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ninh Binh, Vietnam
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Ninh Binh
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$734
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ninh Binh and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ninh Binh and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $734 in Ninh Binh versus $1,349 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Ninh Binh $734
  • Ubud, Bali $1,349

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,173 in Ninh Binh versus $2,305 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Ninh Binh $1,173
  • Ubud, Bali $2,305

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,612 in Ninh Binh versus $3,261 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Ninh Binh $1,612
  • Ubud, Bali $3,261

Living in Ninh Binh costs roughly 46% less than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ninh Binh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.89 ₫48.8K
$3.32 Rp 60.4K
-43.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.29 ₫550.1K
$35.64 Rp 647.8K
-40.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.53 ₫117.1K
$5.53 Rp 100.6K
-18.08%
Cappuccino
$1.79 ₫46.3K
$2.72 Rp 49.4K
-34.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ₫12.2K
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
-72.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ₫7,777
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
-60.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.92 ₫23.6K
$2.65 Rp 48.2K
-65.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 ₫39.0K
$4.38 Rp 79.6K
-65.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ninh Binh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 ₫36.7K
$1.49 Rp 27.1K
-4.70%
White Bread (500g)
$0.97 ₫25.0K
$2.28 Rp 41.4K
-57.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ₫24.5K
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
-20.17%
Eggs
$1.40 ₫36.3K
$2.04 Rp 37.0K
-31.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.65 ₫300.8K
$17.70 Rp 321.7K
-34.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 ₫94.5K
$3.96 Rp 72.0K
-7.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.94 ₫256.8K
$12.19 Rp 221.6K
-18.46%
Apples (1kg)
$2.79 ₫72.0K
$3.66 Rp 66.4K
-23.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 ₫27.5K
$1.52 Rp 27.6K
-30.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.35 ₫34.8K
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
-39.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.11 ₫28.8K
$1.97 Rp 35.9K
-43.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 ₫26.9K
$1.85 Rp 33.6K
-43.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 ₫26.0K
$2.42 Rp 44.1K
-58.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 ₫16.7K
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
-34.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ₫12.4K
$0.51 Rp 9,332
-5.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.32 ₫34.1K
$2.22 Rp 40.4K
-40.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.36 ₫293.4K
$22.24 Rp 404.2K
-48.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 ₫19.3K
$2.26 Rp 41.1K
-66.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 ₫40.8K
$2.97 Rp 54.0K
-46.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Ninh Binh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 ₫8,176
$0.25 Rp 4,562
28.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.37 ₫164.5K
$7.82 Rp 142.2K
-18.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.70 ₫18.1K
$0.44 Rp 7,989
59.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.62 ₫16.1K
$0.43 Rp 7,817
44.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.75 ₫71.0K
$5.41 Rp 98.3K
-49.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 ₫21.6K
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
2.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K ₫891.1M
$23.8K Rp 433.3M
44.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K ₫836.0M
$31.7K Rp 577.0M
1.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ninh Binh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$75.5 ₫2.0M
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
-4.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.88 ₫151.8K
$6.45 Rp 117.2K
-8.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.71 ₫225.1K
$18.58 Rp 337.7K
-53.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ninh Binh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.58 ₫557.5K
$49.48 Rp 899.4K
-56.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.61 ₫196.5K
$17.65 Rp 320.8K
-56.88%
Cinema Ticket
$3.01 ₫77.7K
$4.27 Rp 77.7K
-29.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ninh Binh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$262 ₫6.8M
$491 Rp 8.9M
-46.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.7K ₫302.4M
$5,674 Rp 103.1M
106.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ninh Binh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.29 ₫1.1M
$44.64 Rp 811.4K
-7.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.38 ₫604.0K
$34.95 Rp 635.3K
-33.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.2 ₫2.2M
$79.9 Rp 1.5M
6.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.2 ₫1.9M
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
-6.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ninh Binh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$358 ₫9.3M
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
-68.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$252 ₫6.5M
$671 Rp 12.2M
-62.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$732 ₫18.9M
$3,565 Rp 64.8M
-79.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$542 ₫14.0M
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
-68.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,090 ₫54.0M
$2,732 Rp 49.6M
-23.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₫31.6M
$2,284 Rp 41.5M
-46.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ninh Binh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$164 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.1
13.78
-33.96%

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

Last update for Ninh Binh: October 24, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ninh Binh
$252
Ubud, Bali
$672 166% $419
Groceries & Markets
Ninh Binh
$191
Ubud, Bali
$288 51.2% $98
Clothing & Footwear
Ninh Binh
$101
Ubud, Bali
$108 6.6% $6.7
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ninh Binh
$90
Ubud, Bali
$104 15.5% $14
Eating Out
Ninh Binh
$61
Ubud, Bali
$108 76.8% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Ninh Binh
$28
Ubud, Bali
$58 110% $30
Getting Around
Ninh Binh
$11
Ubud, Bali
$11 0.3% $0

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $358 in Ninh Binh and $1,125 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $21 in Ninh Binh vs $36 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $191 vs $288 per month, with Ninh Binh cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇻🇳 Ninh Binh
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
01:01 1:01 AM
02:01 2:01 AM
1 h ahead of Ninh Binh
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
148,406
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to VND – Vietnamese Dong Converter

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 25,832 VND (100,000 VND = 3.87 USD). 1 EUR = 28,757 VND (100,000 VND = 3.48 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18,175 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.5 USD). 1 EUR = 20,233 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ninh Binh Ubud, Bali 3,360 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Ninh Binh
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Ninh Binh vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ninh Binh cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Ninh Binh is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 84% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $1,101 in Ninh Binh and $2,023 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 Ninh Binh and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $358 in Ninh Binh versus $1,125 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $262 in Ninh Binh versus $491 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Ninh Binh and in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ninh Binh or in Ubud, Bali?
At $734 in Ninh Binh versus $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ninh Binh but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Ninh Binh the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Ninh Binh or in 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.
Which city is safer, Ninh Binh or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Ninh Binh 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 Ninh Binh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% 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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