😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,979 in Paola versus $1,374 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,022 in Paola versus $2,313 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,066 in Paola versus $3,252 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Paola is roughly 44% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Paola47% above, Ubud, Bali2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Paola
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.78€17.44
$3.32Rp 59.8K
495.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.2€76.9
$35.33Rp 635.6K
146.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€12.14
$5.33Rp 95.9K
158.35%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.43
$2.75Rp 49.5K
0.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22€2.84
$1.73Rp 31.1K
86.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20€1.94
$0.80Rp 14.4K
175.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.55€4.01
$2.95Rp 53.0K
54.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.34€4.70
$4.44Rp 79.9K
20.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Paola
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38€1.21
$1.50Rp 27.0K
-8.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31€1.16
$2.30Rp 41.3K
-43.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.32€3.81
$1.10Rp 19.8K
292.73%
Eggs
$4.22€3.72
$2.16Rp 38.9K
95.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.29€7.31
$17.09Rp 307.4K
-51.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.63€9.37
$3.88Rp 69.8K
173.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.39€16.21
$11.92Rp 214.4K
54.28%
Apples(1kg)
$4.12€3.63
$3.57Rp 64.1K
15.41%
Banana(1kg)
$2.84€2.50
$1.58Rp 28.5K
79.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.59€3.17
$2.36Rp 42.5K
52.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.50€3.08
$1.97Rp 35.4K
77.66%
Potato(1kg)
$2.48€2.19
$1.81Rp 32.5K
37.02%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.77
$2.39Rp 43.0K
-15.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.39€2.10
$1.02Rp 18.3K
134.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.16
$0.49Rp 8,841
169.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.00€6.17
$2.25Rp 40.4K
211.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.09€7.13
$22.30Rp 401.2K
-63.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72€1.51
$2.37Rp 42.6K
-27.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.11
$2.90Rp 52.1K
-17.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Paola
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.39€2.11
$0.25Rp 4,482
856.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.55Rp 153.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.52€4.87
$0.44Rp 7,950
1154.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.23€1.97
$0.42Rp 7,598
430.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.87€23.68
$5.66Rp 101.9K
374.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.48€1.31
$0.81Rp 14.7K
82.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K€33.7K
$23.7KRp 427.1M
61.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K€34.5K
$31.0KRp 557.4M
26.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Paola
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103€90.5
$82.3Rp 1.5M
24.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.55€22.52
$6.30Rp 113.3K
305.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.35€38.21
$18.63Rp 335.3K
132.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Paola
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$70.4€62.1
$54.7Rp 984.7K
28.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.45Rp 331.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.09€8.90
$4.24Rp 76.3K
137.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Paola
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$367€323
$484Rp 8.7M
-24.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.4K€10.1K
$5,590Rp 100.6M
104.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Paola
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.1€79.4
$45.77Rp 823.5K
96.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.75€35.92
$35.69Rp 642.2K
14.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€90.9
$78.3Rp 1.4M
31.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.1€71.5
$80.1Rp 1.4M
1.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Paola
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,083€955
$1,147Rp 20.6M
-5.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$979€863
$678Rp 12.2M
44.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,954€1,722
$3,504Rp 63.0M
-44.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,578€1,391
$1,688Rp 30.4M
-6.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,699€3,261
$2,788Rp 50.2M
32.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,432€2,144
$2,257Rp 40.6M
7.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Paola
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$165Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.9
13.78
-78.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Paola: September 28, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,083 in Paola and $1,147 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $87.0 in Paola vs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $330 vs $286 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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
Paola vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Paola or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 44% lower than in Paola. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Paola and in Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $2,968 in Paola and $2,062 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Paola compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,083 in Paola versus $1,147 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Paola and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $367 in Paola versus $484 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Paola and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $87.0 in Paola. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Paola or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,374 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,979 in Paola, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Paola. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Paola or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,374 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Paola compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Paola 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 Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Paola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.