🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $677 in Padang versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,039 in Padang versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,401 in Padang versus $3,732 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 49% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.57Rp 27.2K
$3.57Rp 61.9K
-56.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.46Rp 216.0K
$32.58Rp 564.7K
-61.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.30Rp 57.1K
$5.07Rp 87.8K
-34.91%
Cappuccino
$1.73Rp 30.0K
$2.83Rp 49.0K
-38.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54Rp 9,428
$1.34Rp 23.2K
-59.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 4,875
$0.69Rp 12.0K
-59.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44Rp 42.2K
$2.99Rp 51.8K
-18.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59Rp 62.3K
$3.85Rp 66.7K
-6.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21Rp 21.0K
$1.74Rp 30.2K
-30.46%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13Rp 19.6K
$2.54Rp 44.0K
-55.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.90Rp 15.6K
$1.19Rp 20.6K
-24.37%
Eggs
$1.59Rp 27.6K
$2.43Rp 42.0K
-34.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.06Rp 139.7K
$14.66Rp 254.1K
-45.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.20Rp 55.4K
$4.18Rp 72.4K
-23.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.82Rp 135.5K
$11.94Rp 206.9K
-34.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39Rp 41.5K
$3.69Rp 63.9K
-35.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49Rp 25.8K
$1.61Rp 27.8K
-7.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.81Rp 31.4K
$2.69Rp 46.5K
-32.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57Rp 27.2K
$2.33Rp 40.4K
-32.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.0K
$1.91Rp 33.0K
-30.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94Rp 33.6K
$2.19Rp 37.9K
-11.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97Rp 16.8K
$1.06Rp 18.3K
-8.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,095
$0.72Rp 12.5K
-43.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.56Rp 44.4K
$3.13Rp 54.3K
-18.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.62Rp 444.0K
$23.49Rp 407.1K
9.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02Rp 35.0K
$2.74Rp 47.5K
-26.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24Rp 56.2K
$2.88Rp 49.9K
12.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,108
$0.29Rp 5,029
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.63Rp 166.9K
$8.17Rp 141.6K
17.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.58Rp 9,975
$0.45Rp 7,863
28.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38Rp 6,501
$0.42Rp 7,305
-9.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.86Rp 49.5K
$6.16Rp 106.7K
-53.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78Rp 13.5K
$0.84Rp 14.6K
-7.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9KRp 431.8M
$26.2KRp 454.9M
-5.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KRp 472.1M
$32.5KRp 562.9M
-16.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.0Rp 1.2M
$78.4Rp 1.4M
-10.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.39Rp 76.0K
$3.95Rp 68.5K
11.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.09Rp 400.1K
$24.40Rp 423.0K
-5.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.59Rp 391.6K
$96.5Rp 1.7M
-76.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.00Rp 104.0K
$6.35Rp 110.0K
-5.51%
Cinema Ticket
$3.16Rp 54.8K
$4.04Rp 70.0K
-21.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.1Rp 1.6M
$303Rp 5.2M
-69.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,495Rp 129.9M
$6,523Rp 113.1M
14.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.51Rp 719.4K
$53.8Rp 933.1K
-22.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.12Rp 539.4K
$37.98Rp 658.3K
-18.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.5Rp 1.2M
$86.8Rp 1.5M
-23.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.3Rp 1.3M
$78.9Rp 1.4M
-4.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$253Rp 4.4M
$1,012Rp 17.5M
-74.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$157Rp 2.7M
$674Rp 11.7M
-76.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$597Rp 10.3M
$3,390Rp 58.8M
-82.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$328Rp 5.7M
$2,098Rp 36.4M
-84.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,127Rp 19.5M
$2,985Rp 51.7M
-62.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$780Rp 13.5M
$2,339Rp 40.5M
-66.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$177Rp 3.1M
$173Rp 3.0M
2.25%
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: April 28, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $253 in Padang and $1,012 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $218 vs $298 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 112% 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: $253 in Padang versus $1,012 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 18% 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 $93.1 in Padang versus $303 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 $677 in Padang versus $1,438 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 $677 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 112% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.