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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Pale vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,523 per month in Pale vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,029 per month in Pale vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Pale is about 27% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Pale sits 26% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.67 BAM 14.58

$3.37 Rp 59.5K

157.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.07 BAM 69.1

$38.59 Rp 680.3K

6.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.16 BAM 15.41

$5.52 Rp 97.3K

65.94%

Cappuccino

$1.91 BAM 3.22

$2.64 Rp 46.6K

-27.65%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 BAM 3.87

$1.67 Rp 29.5K

37.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 BAM 2.55

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

96.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 BAM 4.30

$2.63 Rp 46.4K

-2.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 BAM 5.04

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

-29.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 BAM 2.36

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

-9.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 BAM 2.02

$2.22 Rp 39.2K

-45.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 BAM 2.75

$1.13 Rp 19.8K

44.25%

Eggs

$3.01 BAM 5.07

$2.09 Rp 36.8K

44.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.71 BAM 16.34

$17.39 Rp 306.7K

-44.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.38 BAM 14.11

$3.87 Rp 68.2K

116.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.70 BAM 24.74

$12.55 Rp 221.3K

17.13%

Apples (1kg)

$1.51 BAM 2.53

$3.62 Rp 63.8K

-58.29%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 BAM 3.42

$1.56 Rp 27.5K

30.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 BAM 3.89

$2.35 Rp 41.5K

-1.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 BAM 3.68

$2.06 Rp 36.2K

6.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 BAM 1.78

$1.90 Rp 33.5K

-44.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 BAM 2.45

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

-38.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 BAM 1.99

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

15.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 BAM 1.51

$0.55 Rp 9,780

63.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.01 BAM 6.75

$2.25 Rp 39.7K

78.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.40 BAM 14.13

$23.81 Rp 419.7K

-64.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 BAM 1.65

$2.31 Rp 40.8K

-57.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 BAM 2.54

$2.80 Rp 49.4K

-46.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.35 BAM 2.27

$0.27 Rp 4,802

400.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.89 BAM 30.11

$8.66 Rp 152.7K

106.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 BAM 3.04

$0.48 Rp 8,489

277.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.18 BAM 1.98

$0.45 Rp 7,864

162.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.97 BAM 25.20

$5.72 Rp 100.8K

161.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.73 BAM 2.90

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

127.63%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.1K BAM 52.3K

$24.5K Rp 431.7M

26.97%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.3K BAM 41.0K

$32.1K Rp 566.3M

-24.23%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$177 BAM 298

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

112.05%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$16.68 BAM 28.07

$6.46 Rp 113.8K

158.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.33 BAM 47.66

$18.99 Rp 334.9K

49.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.11 BAM 40.56

$56.0 Rp 986.9K

-56.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.69 BAM 14.62

$18.62 Rp 328.2K

-53.33%

Cinema Ticket

$5.83 BAM 9.80

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

36.21%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$217 BAM 365

$487 Rp 8.6M

-55.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,692 BAM 6,212

$5,856 Rp 103.2M

-36.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.5 BAM 147

$45.56 Rp 803.2K

92.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.79 BAM 61.9

$36.38 Rp 641.4K

1.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 BAM 171

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

23.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 BAM 216

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

59.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 BAM 337

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

-82.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$166 BAM 279

$701 Rp 12.4M

-76.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$292 BAM 491

$3,537 Rp 62.4M

-91.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 BAM 381

$1,762 Rp 31.1M

-87.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,369 BAM 2,304

$2,826 Rp 49.8M

-51.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,156 BAM 1,946

$2,292 Rp 40.4M

-49.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$770 BAM 1,296

$170 Rp 3.0M

353.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

13.78

-70.39%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Pale: September 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $200 in Pale versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 354% higher in Pale, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Pale versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Pale vs $293 in Ubud, Bali – so Pale wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Pale vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 37%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,526 per month in Pale and $2,095 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pale, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Pale and $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Pale and $1,396 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pale, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Pale it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Pale – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Pale. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.