Cost of Living Comparison Between North East, MD and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between North East, MD and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,687 in North East, MD versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,035 in North East, MD versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,384 in North East, MD versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in North East, MD is roughly 89% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: North East, MD 100% above, Ubud, Bali 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
North East, MD
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.72 $24.72
$3.56 Rp 64.3K
594.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.6 $91.6
$32.73 Rp 590.3K
179.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.13 $11.13
$4.95 Rp 89.3K
124.85%
Cappuccino
$5.61 $5.61
$2.71 Rp 48.9K
107.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 $2.97
$1.34 Rp 24.2K
121.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 $2.62
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
274.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.17 $8.17
$2.92 Rp 52.7K
179.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.76 $8.76
$3.96 Rp 71.4K
121.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
North East, MD
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.81 Rp 32.6K
-30.39%
White Bread (500g)
$3.68 $3.68
$2.52 Rp 45.4K
46.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.80 $6.80
$1.16 Rp 20.9K
486.21%
Eggs
$4.15 $4.15
$2.46 Rp 44.4K
68.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.51 $19.51
$14.71 Rp 265.3K
32.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$4.32 Rp 77.9K
244.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.42 $25.42
$12.14 Rp 218.9K
109.39%
Apples (1kg)
$6.95 $6.95
$3.84 Rp 69.3K
80.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 $1.86
$1.56 Rp 28.1K
19.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.33 $5.33
$2.83 Rp 51.1K
88.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.70 $5.70
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
144.64%
Potato (1kg)
$4.14 $4.14
$1.91 Rp 34.5K
116.75%
Onion (1kg)
$3.39 $3.39
$2.20 Rp 39.7K
54.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.01 Rp 18.3K
119.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.89 $2.89
$0.78 Rp 14.0K
270.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.95 $11.95
$3.32 Rp 59.8K
259.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.08 $17.08
$23.74 Rp 428.1K
-28.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
-30.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 $3.32
$2.86 Rp 51.6K
16.08%
🚌 Getting Around
North East, MD
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.01 $2.01
$0.27 Rp 4,848
644.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.03 Rp 144.8K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.80 $2.80
$0.46 Rp 8,231
508.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 $1.38
$0.45 Rp 8,117
206.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.16 $25.16
$6.10 Rp 109.9K
312.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$0.79 Rp 14.3K
8.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K $30.8K
$26.1K Rp 471.6M
17.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K $24.6K
$32.1K Rp 579.3M
-23.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
North East, MD
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$126 $126
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
57.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.53 $43.53
$4.06 Rp 73.3K
972.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.2 $71.2
$23.52 Rp 424.2K
202.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
North East, MD
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.22 $43.22
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-56.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.63 Rp 119.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.80 $14.80
$4.15 Rp 74.8K
256.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
North East, MD
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,902 $1,902
$304 Rp 5.5M
525.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$35.5K $35.5K
$6,613 Rp 119.3M
436.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
North East, MD
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 $56.7
$55.5 Rp 1.0M
2.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.4 $53.4
$38.31 Rp 690.9K
39.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.9 $93.9
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
6.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 $117
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
50.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
North East, MD
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,616 $1,616
$1,006 Rp 18.2M
60.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,342 $1,342
$675 Rp 12.2M
98.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,673 $2,673
$3,442 Rp 62.1M
-22.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,198 $2,198
$2,039 Rp 36.8M
7.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,341 $2,341
$2,841 Rp 51.2M
-17.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,583 $2,583
$2,264 Rp 40.8M
14.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
North East, MD
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$165 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
13.28
-50.68%

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

Last update for North East, MD: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,616 in North East, MD and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $92.0 in North East, MD vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $511 vs $302 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

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
North East, MD vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, North East, MD or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 89% lower than in North East, MD. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in North East, MD vs Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $4,030 in North East, MD and $2,129 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in North East, MD vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,616 in North East, MD versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in North East, MD or Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 69% higher in North East, MD. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in North East, MD compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $2,687 per month in North East, MD versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – a 89% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in North East, MD or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,687 in North East, MD, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in North East, MD. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, North East, MD or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,419 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is North East, MD compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, North East, MD 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 89% less than in North East, MD. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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