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 $965 per month in Pale vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,458 per month in Pale vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,952 per month in Pale vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Pale is about 32% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Pale sits 28% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.10 BAM 11.93

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

99.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.05 BAM 58.9

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

7.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.98 BAM 15.08

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

81.41%

Cappuccino

$1.64 BAM 2.75

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

-39.48%

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

$2.01 BAM 3.38

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 BAM 1.93

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

64.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 BAM 3.44

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

-29.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 BAM 3.85

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

-42.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 BAM 2.27

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

-25.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 BAM 2.03

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

-51.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 BAM 2.71

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

38.79%

Eggs

$2.97 BAM 4.99

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

20.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.42 BAM 15.83

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

-35.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.85 BAM 14.86

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

104.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.46 BAM 20.94

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

2.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.44 BAM 2.42

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

-62.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 BAM 3.03

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

15.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.07 BAM 3.48

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

-26.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.14 BAM 3.59

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

-8.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 BAM 1.96

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

-38.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.30 BAM 2.19

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

-40.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.26 BAM 2.12

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

24.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 BAM 1.35

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

2.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.75 BAM 6.30

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

12.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.48 BAM 14.25

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

-64.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 BAM 1.83

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

-60.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 BAM 2.19

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

-54.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.83 BAM 3.08

$0.27 Rp 4,800

577.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.40 BAM 59.5

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

340.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 BAM 2.41

$0.46 Rp 8,150

210.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 BAM 1.29

$0.45 Rp 8,037

68.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.02 BAM 15.15

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

47.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 BAM 2.48

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

86.08%

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

$26.9K BAM 45.2K

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

2.93%

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

$26.6K BAM 44.7K

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

-17.20%

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

$168 BAM 282

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

110.11%

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

$19.11 BAM 32.11

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

370.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.42 BAM 39.35

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

-0.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.51 BAM 39.50

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-76.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.83 BAM 14.83

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

33.18%

Cinema Ticket

$4.85 BAM 8.16

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

16.87%

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

$240 BAM 403

$304 Rp 5.4M

-21.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,360 BAM 5,645

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

-49.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.6 BAM 127

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

36.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.50 BAM 61.3

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

-4.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 BAM 167

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

12.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 BAM 207

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

58.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$188 BAM 316

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

-81.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 BAM 263

$675 Rp 12.1M

-76.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 BAM 471

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

-91.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$222 BAM 372

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

-89.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,378 BAM 2,315

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

-51.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,156 BAM 1,941

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

-48.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$768 BAM 1,290

$165 Rp 3.0M

364.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

13.28

-69.35%

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

Last update for Pale: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $188 in Pale versus $1,006 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 365% 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 $35.00 in Pale versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Pale vs $302 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 47%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,447 per month in Pale and $2,129 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 $35.00 in Pale and $33.00 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 $965 in Pale and $1,419 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 $965, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. 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.