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 $2,294 per month in Papeete vs $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,419 per month in Papeete vs $2,557 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,543 per month in Papeete vs $3,723 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Papeete costs about 65% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Papeete and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Papeete by 72%, Ubud, Bali by 5%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.53 CFPF 1,833

$3.57 Rp 64.6K

391.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.1 CFPF 8,686

$32.32 Rp 584.4K

157.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 CFPF 1,288

$5.01 Rp 90.5K

145.91%

Cappuccino

$4.06 CFPF 425

$2.82 Rp 51.1K

43.97%

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

$3.44 CFPF 360

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

154.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 CFPF 279

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

265.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.84 CFPF 296

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

-3.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 CFPF 394

$3.94 Rp 71.2K

-4.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 CFPF 164

$1.78 Rp 32.2K

-11.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 CFPF 78.6

$2.45 Rp 44.3K

-69.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 CFPF 169

$1.15 Rp 20.8K

40.87%

Eggs

$6.57 CFPF 687

$2.41 Rp 43.7K

172.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.24 CFPF 2,743

$14.33 Rp 259.1K

83.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.87 CFPF 1,764

$4.19 Rp 75.7K

302.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.23 CFPF 2,743

$12.06 Rp 218.1K

117.50%

Apples (1kg)

$5.13 CFPF 536

$3.64 Rp 65.8K

40.93%

Banana (1kg)

$2.32 CFPF 242

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

47.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.68 CFPF 594

$2.79 Rp 50.4K

103.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.96 CFPF 832

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

255.36%

Potato (1kg)

$3.05 CFPF 318

$1.98 Rp 35.8K

54.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.71 CFPF 283

$2.28 Rp 41.2K

18.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.93 CFPF 411

$1.05 Rp 19.1K

274.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 CFPF 118

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

43.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.83 CFPF 1,237

$3.19 Rp 57.7K

270.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.76 CFPF 2,275

$23.49 Rp 424.8K

-7.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 CFPF 207

$2.90 Rp 52.4K

-31.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 CFPF 327

$2.76 Rp 49.8K

13.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 CFPF 204

$0.27 Rp 4,821

622.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 151.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.59 CFPF 1,002

$0.45 Rp 8,180

2031.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,311

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 CFPF 166

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

84.88%

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

$19.4K CFPF 2.0M

$26.6K Rp 480.7M

-27.11%

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

$29.6K CFPF 3.1M

$32.5K Rp 588.6M

-9.06%

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

$186 CFPF 19.4K

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

135.02%

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

$17.57 CFPF 1,837

$4.09 Rp 74.0K

329.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.2 CFPF 6,608

$23.85 Rp 431.2K

164.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.9 CFPF 8,146

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

-21.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.9K

Cinema Ticket

$14.32 CFPF 1,498

$4.01 Rp 72.5K

257.11%

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

$491 CFPF 51.3K

$297 Rp 5.4M

65.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,673 CFPF 1.0M

$6,602 Rp 119.4M

46.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.3 CFPF 7,971

$53.4 Rp 966.0K

42.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$82.2 CFPF 8,596

$38.11 Rp 689.2K

115.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.0 CFPF 8,049

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

-13.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.0 CFPF 9,822

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

22.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,233 CFPF 129.0K

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

20.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$974 CFPF 101.8K

$680 Rp 12.3M

43.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,910 CFPF 199.7K

$3,469 Rp 62.7M

-44.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,551 CFPF 162.2K

$2,090 Rp 37.8M

-25.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,458 CFPF 884.2K

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

209.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,185 CFPF 646.6K

$2,295 Rp 41.5M

169.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,414 CFPF 252.3K

$164 Rp 3.0M

1374.60%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,233 in Papeete versus $1,020 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 1375% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $503 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 65%, 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 $3,441 per month in Papeete and $2,088 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 $2,294 in Papeete and $1,392 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $491 per month in Papeete and $297 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 $1,392, than in Papeete at $2,294. 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.