🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $651 in Padang versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,007 in Padang versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,363 in Padang versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Padang costs roughly 52% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Padang is 52% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.74Rp 30.9K
$3.44Rp 60.9K
-49.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.43Rp 220.0K
$36.31Rp 643.0K
-65.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.04Rp 53.7K
$5.71Rp 101.0K
-46.76%
Cappuccino
$1.49Rp 26.4K
$2.67Rp 47.3K
-44.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38Rp 6,734
$1.75Rp 31.0K
-78.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,533
$0.87Rp 15.4K
-70.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.71Rp 48.0K
$2.95Rp 52.3K
-8.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93Rp 69.6K
$4.52Rp 80.0K
-13.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17Rp 20.8K
$1.62Rp 28.7K
-27.78%
White Bread(500g)
$0.95Rp 16.9K
$2.33Rp 41.3K
-59.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.92Rp 16.3K
$1.11Rp 19.6K
-17.12%
Eggs
$1.45Rp 25.6K
$2.20Rp 39.0K
-34.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.29Rp 111.4K
$17.69Rp 313.3K
-64.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.60Rp 46.0K
$4.10Rp 72.5K
-36.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.98Rp 141.3K
$12.18Rp 215.6K
-34.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.02Rp 35.7K
$3.71Rp 65.6K
-45.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.16Rp 20.5K
$1.59Rp 28.1K
-27.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63Rp 28.9K
$2.28Rp 40.4K
-28.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.17Rp 20.7K
$1.95Rp 34.6K
-40.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.35Rp 23.8K
$1.91Rp 33.7K
-29.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.93Rp 34.2K
$2.33Rp 41.3K
-17.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83Rp 14.7K
$1.01Rp 17.8K
-17.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44Rp 7,865
$0.55Rp 9,773
-20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.71Rp 48.0K
$2.23Rp 39.5K
21.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.01Rp 407.4K
$23.07Rp 408.6K
-0.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00Rp 35.5K
$2.42Rp 42.8K
-17.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74Rp 48.5K
$3.00Rp 53.1K
-8.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,325
$0.27Rp 4,814
11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.98Rp 159.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.51Rp 9,086
$0.48Rp 8,566
6.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29Rp 5,191
$0.43Rp 7,679
-32.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.53Rp 44.8K
$5.64Rp 99.9K
-55.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.69Rp 12.1K
$0.80Rp 14.2K
-13.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KRp 404.2M
$24.9KRp 441.7M
-8.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6KRp 542.5M
$31.7KRp 561.5M
-3.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.1Rp 1.3M
$81.5Rp 1.4M
-9.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.30Rp 76.2K
$6.49Rp 115.0K
-33.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.79Rp 315.1K
$18.77Rp 332.4K
-5.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.96Rp 353.4K
$56.9Rp 1.0M
-64.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.45Rp 132.0K
$18.73Rp 331.7K
-60.22%
Cinema Ticket
$2.46Rp 43.5K
$4.54Rp 80.4K
-45.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$99.6Rp 1.8M
$481Rp 8.5M
-79.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,742Rp 137.1M
$5,711Rp 101.1M
35.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.85Rp 794.2K
$45.52Rp 806.0K
-1.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.67Rp 525.3K
$35.88Rp 635.4K
-17.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.7Rp 1.3M
$80.4Rp 1.4M
-8.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.8Rp 1.4M
$78.7Rp 1.4M
2.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$236Rp 4.2M
$1,115Rp 19.7M
-78.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$140Rp 2.5M
$698Rp 12.4M
-79.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$513Rp 9.1M
$3,637Rp 64.4M
-85.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$359Rp 6.4M
$1,737Rp 30.8M
-79.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,358Rp 24.0M
$2,784Rp 49.3M
-51.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$634Rp 11.2M
$2,290Rp 40.5M
-72.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$170Rp 3.0M
$168Rp 3.0M
1.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.46
13.78
-31.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Padang: September 13, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $236 in Padang and $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Padang pays 1% 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $295 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 110% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 1% higher in Padang, 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 compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $236 in Padang versus $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Padang or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 52% 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 Padang compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $651 per month in Padang versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali – a 110% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Padang or in Ubud, Bali?
At $651 in Padang versus $1,368 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 $651 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 110% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.