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 $2,329 per month in Papeete vs $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,484 per month in Papeete vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,639 per month in Papeete vs $3,732 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Papeete costs about 62% 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 7%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.17 CFPF 1,750

$3.57 Rp 61.6K

380.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.0 CFPF 8,260

$32.58 Rp 562.6K

148.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.15 CFPF 1,238

$5.07 Rp 87.5K

139.64%

Cappuccino

$4.04 CFPF 412

$2.83 Rp 48.8K

42.76%

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

$3.28 CFPF 334

$1.34 Rp 23.1K

144.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 CFPF 275

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

291.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 CFPF 298

$2.99 Rp 51.6K

-2.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 CFPF 405

$3.85 Rp 66.4K

3.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 CFPF 155

$1.74 Rp 30.1K

-12.64%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 CFPF 75.9

$2.54 Rp 43.8K

-70.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 CFPF 167

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

36.97%

Eggs

$6.37 CFPF 649

$2.43 Rp 41.9K

162.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.18 CFPF 2,669

$14.66 Rp 253.2K

78.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.02 CFPF 1,735

$4.18 Rp 72.1K

307.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.64 CFPF 2,715

$11.94 Rp 206.1K

123.12%

Apples (1kg)

$5.24 CFPF 534

$3.69 Rp 63.6K

42.01%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 CFPF 228

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

38.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 CFPF 595

$2.69 Rp 46.4K

116.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.81 CFPF 796

$2.33 Rp 40.2K

235.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.90 CFPF 296

$1.91 Rp 32.9K

51.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 CFPF 270

$2.19 Rp 37.7K

21.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.86 CFPF 393

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

264.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 CFPF 114

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

55.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.25 CFPF 1,248

$3.13 Rp 54.1K

291.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.26 CFPF 2,473

$23.49 Rp 405.6K

3.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 CFPF 198

$2.74 Rp 47.3K

-29.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 CFPF 316

$2.88 Rp 49.7K

7.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 CFPF 203

$0.29 Rp 5,010

586.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.43 CFPF 961

$0.45 Rp 7,834

1995.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,278

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 CFPF 158

$0.84 Rp 14.5K

84.52%

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

$19.6K CFPF 2.0M

$26.2K Rp 453.1M

-25.37%

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

$29.6K CFPF 3.0M

$32.5K Rp 560.8M

-8.75%

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

$187 CFPF 19.1K

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

138.38%

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

$17.15 CFPF 1,748

$3.95 Rp 68.2K

334.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.0 CFPF 6,323

$24.40 Rp 421.4K

154.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 CFPF 7,919

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

-19.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 109.6K

Cinema Ticket

$14.57 CFPF 1,485

$4.04 Rp 69.7K

260.64%

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

$490 CFPF 49.9K

$303 Rp 5.2M

61.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,746 CFPF 993.3K

$6,523 Rp 112.6M

49.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.5 CFPF 7,794

$53.8 Rp 929.5K

42.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$83.8 CFPF 8,536

$37.98 Rp 655.8K

120.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.8 CFPF 7,827

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

-11.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.6 CFPF 9,543

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

18.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,240 CFPF 126.4K

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

22.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$967 CFPF 98.6K

$674 Rp 11.6M

43.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 CFPF 192.4K

$3,390 Rp 58.5M

-44.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,574 CFPF 160.5K

$2,098 Rp 36.2M

-24.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,828 CFPF 899.8K

$2,985 Rp 51.5M

195.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,349 CFPF 647.1K

$2,339 Rp 40.4M

171.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,442 CFPF 248.9K

$173 Rp 3.0M

1310.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

-54.82%

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

Last update for Papeete: April 28, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,240 in Papeete versus $1,012 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 1310% 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 $81.0 in Papeete versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $508 vs $298 – 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 62%, 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 $3,494 per month in Papeete and $2,158 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 $2,329 in Papeete and $1,438 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $490 per month in Papeete and $303 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 $1,438, than in Papeete at $2,329. 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.