Cost of Living Comparison Between Nova Friburgo and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Nova Friburgo and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $584 in Nova Friburgo versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $982 in Nova Friburgo versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,379 in Nova Friburgo versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Nova Friburgo costs roughly 58% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Nova Friburgo is 58% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nova Friburgo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 R$30.21
$3.37 Rp 59.7K
75.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.69 R$146
$38.59 Rp 682.4K
-25.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.36 R$32.44
$5.52 Rp 97.6K
15.22%
Cappuccino
$1.65 R$8.40
$2.64 Rp 46.8K
-37.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 R$4.63
$1.67 Rp 29.6K
-45.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 R$2.62
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
-33.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.19 R$6.07
$2.63 Rp 46.6K
-54.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 R$11.66
$4.28 Rp 75.7K
-46.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nova Friburgo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.93 R$4.75
$1.55 Rp 27.3K
-40.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 R$7.45
$2.22 Rp 39.3K
-34.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 R$6.71
$1.13 Rp 19.9K
16.81%
Eggs
$1.88 R$9.58
$2.09 Rp 36.9K
-10.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.92 R$45.51
$17.39 Rp 307.6K
-48.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.27 R$16.68
$3.87 Rp 68.4K
-15.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.58 R$48.83
$12.55 Rp 221.9K
-23.67%
Apples (1kg)
$1.57 R$8.01
$3.62 Rp 63.9K
-56.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 R$5.64
$1.56 Rp 27.6K
-28.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.95 R$4.82
$2.35 Rp 41.6K
-59.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.25 R$6.35
$2.06 Rp 36.4K
-39.32%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 R$3.44
$1.90 Rp 33.6K
-64.74%
Onion (1kg)
$0.79 R$4.02
$2.34 Rp 41.3K
-66.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.54 R$2.76
$1.03 Rp 18.2K
-47.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 R$4.02
$0.55 Rp 9,809
43.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.53 R$7.79
$2.25 Rp 39.8K
-32.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 R$29.17
$23.81 Rp 421.0K
-75.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 R$4.79
$2.31 Rp 40.9K
-59.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 R$6.74
$2.80 Rp 49.5K
-52.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Nova Friburgo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.98 R$5.01
$0.27 Rp 4,816
262.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.66 Rp 153.2K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 R$5.79
$0.48 Rp 8,515
137.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.49 R$2.51
$0.45 Rp 7,887
8.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.60 R$33.67
$5.72 Rp 101.1K
15.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 R$6.24
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
60.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K R$95.1K
$24.5K Rp 433.0M
-23.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4K R$154.8K
$32.1K Rp 568.0M
-5.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nova Friburgo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.23 R$200
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
-53.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.23 R$47.05
$6.46 Rp 114.2K
42.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.43 R$94.0
$18.99 Rp 335.9K
-2.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nova Friburgo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.40 R$109
$56.0 Rp 989.8K
-61.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.62 Rp 329.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.34 R$32.32
$4.28 Rp 75.7K
48.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nova Friburgo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$140 R$714
$487 Rp 8.6M
-71.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,496 R$12.7K
$5,856 Rp 103.6M
-57.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nova Friburgo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.6 R$350
$45.56 Rp 805.6K
50.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$81.1 R$414
$36.38 Rp 643.3K
122.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.1 R$327
$82.0 Rp 1.4M
-21.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$45.53 R$232
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
-43.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nova Friburgo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$156 R$795
$1,117 Rp 19.7M
-86.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$96.6 R$493
$701 Rp 12.4M
-86.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$390 R$1,990
$3,537 Rp 62.5M
-88.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$228 R$1,163
$1,762 Rp 31.2M
-87.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,523 R$7,766
$2,826 Rp 50.0M
-46.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$770 R$3,929
$2,292 Rp 40.5M
-66.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nova Friburgo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$488 R$2,487
$170 Rp 3.0M
187.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.67
13.78
-22.57%

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

Last update for Nova Friburgo: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $156 in Nova Friburgo and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nova Friburgo pays 187% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $29.00 in Nova Friburgo vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $167 vs $293 per month, with Nova Friburgo 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
Nova Friburgo vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nova Friburgo or Ubud, Bali?
Nova Friburgo wins on cost – living expenses run 139% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nova Friburgo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Nova Friburgo or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 187% higher in Nova Friburgo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Nova Friburgo compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $156 in Nova Friburgo versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Nova Friburgo or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 75% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Nova Friburgo compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $584 per month in Nova Friburgo versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – a 139% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Nova Friburgo or in Ubud, Bali?
At $584 in Nova Friburgo versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Nova Friburgo but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Nova Friburgo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nova Friburgo or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nova Friburgo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $584 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nova Friburgo hard to pass up.
How safe is Nova Friburgo compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Nova Friburgo 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 Nova Friburgo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 139% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Nova Friburgo vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities