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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,393 per month in Papeete vs $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,560 per month in Papeete vs $2,327 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,728 per month in Papeete vs $3,275 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Papeete costs about 74% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Papeete and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Papeete by 74%, Ubud, Bali by 0%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.66 CFPF 2,014

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

490.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$96.5 CFPF 9,885

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

169.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.44 CFPF 1,582

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

174.25%

Cappuccino

$3.45 CFPF 353

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

22.34%

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

$2.72 CFPF 279

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

55.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 CFPF 348

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

323.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 CFPF 343

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

10.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 CFPF 408

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

-7.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 CFPF 151

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

-8.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.83 CFPF 290

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

24.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 CFPF 171

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

42.74%

Eggs

$6.70 CFPF 687

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

208.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.17 CFPF 2,989

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

65.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 CFPF 1,613

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

288.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.10 CFPF 2,776

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

122.50%

Apples (1kg)

$4.93 CFPF 505

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

36.19%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 CFPF 259

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

54.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.86 CFPF 702

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

196.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.14 CFPF 834

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

315.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 CFPF 288

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

53.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 CFPF 238

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

-1.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.95 CFPF 404

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

276.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 CFPF 123

$0.54 Rp 9,560

122.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.12 CFPF 1,344

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

470.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.20 CFPF 2,274

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

-3.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 CFPF 289

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

20.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 CFPF 326

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

3.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 CFPF 201

$0.25 Rp 4,365

684.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.83 CFPF 1,008

$0.49 Rp 8,631

1906.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 CFPF 161

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

95.06%

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

$19.4K CFPF 2.0M

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

-22.25%

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

$29.2K CFPF 3.0M

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

-6.05%

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

$186 CFPF 19.1K

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

125.18%

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

$20.21 CFPF 2,070

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

211.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.8 CFPF 7,353

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

281.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.8 CFPF 8,992

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

58.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

Cinema Ticket

$14.67 CFPF 1,503

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

241.16%

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

$482 CFPF 49.4K

$494 Rp 8.7M

-2.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,779 CFPF 1.0M

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

65.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.2 CFPF 7,392

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

55.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.7 CFPF 7,753

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

107.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 CFPF 8,234

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

-0.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.2 CFPF 9,442

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

16.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,365 CFPF 139.9K

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

22.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$964 CFPF 98.8K

$693 Rp 12.2M

39.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 CFPF 197.6K

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

-47.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 CFPF 162.3K

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

-7.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,343 CFPF 752.3K

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

166.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,943 CFPF 813.7K

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

246.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,446 CFPF 250.5K

$167 Rp 2.9M

1363.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

13.78

-67.34%

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

Last update for Papeete: September 8, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,365 in Papeete versus $1,114 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 1364% higher in Papeete, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $96.0 in Papeete versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $540 vs $294 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Yes – Papeete is pricier by about 74%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,590 per month in Papeete and $2,067 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,393 in Papeete and $1,378 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $482 per month in Papeete and $494 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,378, than in Papeete at $2,393. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Papeete it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – 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 Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Papeete makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.