🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $662 in Padang versus $1,394 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,031 in Padang versus $2,551 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,400 in Padang versus $3,708 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Padang costs roughly 53% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Padang is 50% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.51Rp 26.8K
$3.40Rp 60.2K
-55.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.35Rp 218.8K
$32.38Rp 573.6K
-61.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.30Rp 58.4K
$5.00Rp 88.6K
-34.00%
Cappuccino
$1.66Rp 29.4K
$2.82Rp 50.0K
-41.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,678
$1.38Rp 24.4K
-60.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,597
$0.73Rp 13.0K
-64.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.40Rp 42.4K
$2.98Rp 52.8K
-19.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60Rp 63.8K
$3.97Rp 70.3K
-9.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19Rp 21.0K
$1.79Rp 31.8K
-33.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.18Rp 20.9K
$2.46Rp 43.7K
-52.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 15.4K
$1.20Rp 21.2K
-27.50%
Eggs
$1.59Rp 28.2K
$2.39Rp 42.3K
-33.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.24Rp 146.0K
$14.40Rp 255.1K
-42.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.09Rp 54.8K
$4.28Rp 75.9K
-27.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.65Rp 135.5K
$11.82Rp 209.4K
-35.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.41Rp 42.6K
$3.78Rp 67.0K
-36.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50Rp 26.6K
$1.63Rp 28.9K
-7.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89Rp 33.5K
$2.80Rp 49.6K
-32.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57Rp 27.8K
$2.26Rp 40.0K
-30.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37Rp 24.3K
$2.00Rp 35.3K
-31.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89Rp 33.5K
$2.21Rp 39.2K
-14.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.91Rp 16.1K
$1.07Rp 18.9K
-14.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,370
$0.76Rp 13.5K
-44.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44Rp 43.1K
$3.13Rp 55.4K
-22.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.67Rp 419.3K
$23.81Rp 421.9K
-0.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12Rp 37.5K
$2.84Rp 50.3K
-25.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24Rp 57.4K
$2.78Rp 49.2K
16.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,223
$0.27Rp 4,726
7.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.01Rp 177.4K
$8.37Rp 148.2K
19.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.56Rp 9,970
$0.45Rp 8,034
24.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38Rp 6,679
$0.43Rp 7,578
-11.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.89Rp 51.2K
$5.98Rp 105.9K
-51.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80Rp 14.1K
$0.80Rp 14.2K
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9KRp 441.9M
$25.8KRp 457.2M
-3.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6KRp 488.1M
$31.8KRp 563.4M
-13.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5Rp 1.2M
$80.7Rp 1.4M
-12.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.33Rp 76.7K
$4.14Rp 73.3K
4.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.33Rp 395.5K
$24.12Rp 427.2K
-7.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.89Rp 405.6K
$97.8Rp 1.7M
-76.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.02Rp 106.7K
$6.64Rp 117.7K
-9.34%
Cinema Ticket
$3.02Rp 53.5K
$4.04Rp 71.5K
-25.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$91.6Rp 1.6M
$297Rp 5.3M
-69.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,528Rp 133.4M
$6,590Rp 116.7M
14.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.43Rp 751.6K
$55.1Rp 976.8K
-23.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.12Rp 533.7K
$38.51Rp 682.1K
-21.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.4Rp 1.2M
$86.1Rp 1.5M
-21.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.8Rp 1.3M
$78.0Rp 1.4M
-6.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$263Rp 4.7M
$985Rp 17.5M
-73.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$158Rp 2.8M
$665Rp 11.8M
-76.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$579Rp 10.3M
$3,446Rp 61.0M
-83.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$338Rp 6.0M
$2,042Rp 36.2M
-83.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,346Rp 23.8M
$2,829Rp 50.1M
-52.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$739Rp 13.1M
$2,282Rp 40.4M
-67.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$172Rp 3.1M
$169Rp 3.0M
1.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
13.28
-31.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Padang: June 14, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $263 in Padang and $985 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Padang pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Padang vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $214 vs $299 per month, with Padang 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
Padang vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Padang or Ubud, Bali?
Padang wins on cost – living expenses run 111% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Padang the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Padang or Ubud, Bali?
Padang pays 2% more on average, 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 Padang vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $263 in Padang versus $985 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Padang vs Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Padang runs roughly 20% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Padang and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $91.6 in Padang versus $297 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Padang or Ubud, Bali?
At $662 in Padang versus $1,394 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Padang but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Padang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Padang or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Padang delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $662 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Padang hard to pass up.
How safe is Padang compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Padang 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 Padang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 111% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.