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 $2,248 per month in Papeete vs $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,366 per month in Papeete vs $2,549 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,483 per month in Papeete vs $3,694 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Papeete costs about 60% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Papeete and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Papeete by 67%, Ubud, Bali by 4%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.33 CFPF 1,783

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

385.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$82.5 CFPF 8,488

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

153.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.35 CFPF 1,270

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

154.12%

Cappuccino

$4.08 CFPF 420

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

48.36%

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

$3.27 CFPF 336

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

147.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 CFPF 279

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

288.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 CFPF 306

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

2.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 CFPF 397

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

1.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 CFPF 158

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

-10.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 CFPF 77.2

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

-69.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 CFPF 174

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

40.83%

Eggs

$6.52 CFPF 671

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

167.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.29 CFPF 2,704

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

82.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.58 CFPF 1,705

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

284.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.83 CFPF 2,759

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

119.74%

Apples (1kg)

$5.32 CFPF 548

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

44.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.20 CFPF 227

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

41.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.88 CFPF 605

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

110.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.56 CFPF 778

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

224.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.95 CFPF 303

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

49.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 CFPF 278

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

16.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.95 CFPF 406

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

272.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 CFPF 115

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

53.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.01 CFPF 1,235

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

266.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.10 CFPF 2,273

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

-3.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 CFPF 210

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

-27.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 CFPF 318

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

11.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.92 CFPF 197

$0.29 Rp 5,217

562.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.74 CFPF 1,002

$0.45 Rp 8,047

2064.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 CFPF 159

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

81.18%

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

$19.3K CFPF 2.0M

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

-25.64%

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

$28.6K CFPF 2.9M

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

-9.75%

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

$190 CFPF 19.6K

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

135.62%

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

$17.53 CFPF 1,803

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

331.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.8 CFPF 6,455

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

157.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 CFPF 8,027

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

-20.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

Cinema Ticket

$14.69 CFPF 1,511

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

263.61%

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

$478 CFPF 49.2K

$304 Rp 5.4M

57.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,618 CFPF 989.2K

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

45.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.4 CFPF 7,965

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

42.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$81.6 CFPF 8,396

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

110.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 CFPF 7,938

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

-10.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.1 CFPF 9,467

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

20.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 CFPF 127.8K

$986 Rp 17.7M

26.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$953 CFPF 98.0K

$658 Rp 11.8M

44.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,871 CFPF 192.5K

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

-44.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,562 CFPF 160.7K

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

-24.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,662 CFPF 890.9K

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

215.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,452 CFPF 663.6K

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

189.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,417 CFPF 248.5K

$163 Rp 2.9M

1378.73%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,243 in Papeete versus $986 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 1379% 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 $83.0 in Papeete versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $503 vs $297 – 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 60%, 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 $3,373 per month in Papeete and $2,106 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 $2,248 in Papeete and $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $478 per month in Papeete and $304 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 $1,404, than in Papeete at $2,248. 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.