Cost of Living Comparison Between Padang and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Padang and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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