🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $662 in Padang versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,023 in Padang versus $2,557 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,384 in Padang versus $3,723 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 50% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.52Rp 27.4K
$3.57Rp 64.5K
-57.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.14Rp 219.2K
$32.32Rp 583.4K
-62.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.37Rp 60.8K
$5.01Rp 90.4K
-32.73%
Cappuccino
$1.67Rp 30.1K
$2.82Rp 51.0K
-40.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52Rp 9,369
$1.35Rp 24.4K
-61.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,080
$0.73Rp 13.2K
-61.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41Rp 43.6K
$2.93Rp 53.0K
-17.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44Rp 62.0K
$3.94Rp 71.1K
-12.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21Rp 21.9K
$1.78Rp 32.1K
-32.02%
White Bread(500g)
$1.18Rp 21.4K
$2.45Rp 44.2K
-51.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.89Rp 16.1K
$1.15Rp 20.7K
-22.61%
Eggs
$1.58Rp 28.5K
$2.41Rp 43.6K
-34.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.98Rp 144.1K
$14.33Rp 258.7K
-44.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.08Rp 55.5K
$4.19Rp 75.6K
-26.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.76Rp 140.0K
$12.06Rp 217.7K
-35.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34Rp 42.2K
$3.64Rp 65.7K
-35.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50Rp 27.0K
$1.57Rp 28.3K
-4.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79Rp 32.4K
$2.79Rp 50.3K
-35.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56Rp 28.2K
$2.24Rp 40.5K
-30.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32Rp 23.8K
$1.98Rp 35.7K
-33.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97Rp 35.5K
$2.28Rp 41.1K
-13.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97Rp 17.5K
$1.05Rp 19.0K
-7.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44Rp 7,949
$0.79Rp 14.2K
-44.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.51Rp 45.4K
$3.19Rp 57.6K
-21.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.61Rp 317.9K
$23.49Rp 424.1K
-25.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12Rp 38.3K
$2.90Rp 52.3K
-26.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12Rp 56.4K
$2.76Rp 49.7K
13.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,862
$0.27Rp 4,813
18.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.05Rp 181.5K
$8.37Rp 151.1K
20.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.57Rp 10.2K
$0.45Rp 8,167
26.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35Rp 6,271
$0.46Rp 8,298
-23.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.00Rp 54.1K
$6.07Rp 109.6K
-50.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.73Rp 13.1K
$0.86Rp 15.6K
-15.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6KRp 443.9M
$26.6KRp 480.0M
-7.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KRp 505.9M
$32.5KRp 587.6M
-13.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5Rp 1.3M
$79.0Rp 1.4M
-10.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.33Rp 78.2K
$4.09Rp 73.9K
5.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.02Rp 415.6K
$23.85Rp 430.5K
-3.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.34Rp 421.4K
$98.8Rp 1.8M
-76.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.33Rp 114.2K
$6.35Rp 114.7K
-0.31%
Cinema Ticket
$3.01Rp 54.4K
$4.01Rp 72.3K
-24.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$91.7Rp 1.7M
$297Rp 5.4M
-69.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,675Rp 138.6M
$6,602Rp 119.2M
16.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.38Rp 747.1K
$53.4Rp 964.5K
-22.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.46Rp 549.9K
$38.11Rp 688.1K
-20.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.8Rp 1.2M
$88.7Rp 1.6M
-23.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.2Rp 1.3M
$76.6Rp 1.4M
-4.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$259Rp 4.7M
$1,020Rp 18.4M
-74.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$161Rp 2.9M
$680Rp 12.3M
-76.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$589Rp 10.6M
$3,469Rp 62.6M
-83.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$336Rp 6.1M
$2,090Rp 37.7M
-83.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,296Rp 23.4M
$2,729Rp 49.3M
-52.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$593Rp 10.7M
$2,295Rp 41.4M
-74.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Padang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$168Rp 3.0M
$164Rp 3.0M
2.62%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $259 in Padang and $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Padang pays 3% 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 $201 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 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 3% 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: $259 in Padang versus $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Padang compared to 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $91.7 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 in Ubud, Bali?
At $662 in Padang versus $1,392 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 110% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.