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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,564 in Placetas versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,886 in Placetas versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,208 in Placetas versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Placetas is roughly 10% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Placetas 17% above, Ubud, Bali 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.76 CUP 354
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
314.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.61 CUP 327
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
-58.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.91 CUP 166
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
39.60%
Cappuccino
$3.03 CUP 72.7
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
11.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 CUP 73.9
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
129.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 CUP 44.58
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
165.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.86 CUP 117
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
66.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 CUP 71.7
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
-24.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.98 CUP 47.54
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
9.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.94 CUP 46.57
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
-23.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 CUP 24.55
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
-12.07%
Eggs
$1.17 CUP 27.98
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
-52.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.46 CUP 179
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
-49.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 CUP 74.4
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
-28.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.13 CUP 291
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
-0.08%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 CUP 43.89
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
-52.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.13 CUP 27.02
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
-27.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 CUP 40.24
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
-40.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.07 CUP 25.72
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
-54.08%
Potato (1kg)
$0.97 CUP 23.32
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
-49.21%
Onion (1kg)
$0.98 CUP 23.57
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
-55.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 CUP 23.36
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
-3.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 CUP 23.66
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
26.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.08 CUP 73.9
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
-7.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.86 CUP 237
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-58.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 CUP 47.18
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
-29.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 CUP 70.7
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
2.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 CUP 5.20
$0.27 Rp 4,800
-18.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.23 CUP 485
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
151.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.04 CUP 121
$0.46 Rp 8,150
995.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.41 CUP 9.93
$0.45 Rp 8,037
-8.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.22 CUP 365
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
149.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 CUP 30.35
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
59.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$76.5K CUP 1.8M
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
192.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$68.0K CUP 1.6M
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
111.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.56 CUP 830
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
-56.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.96 CUP 359
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
268.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$218 CUP 5,223
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
825.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.45 CUP 947
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-60.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.09 CUP 242
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
52.19%
Cinema Ticket
$0.99 CUP 23.69
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
-76.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$121 CUP 2,913
$304 Rp 5.4M
-60.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K CUP 259.7K
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
63.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.17 CUP 1,084
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
-18.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.46 CUP 731
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
-20.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$49.54 CUP 1,189
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
-44.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.0 CUP 1,536
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
-17.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$203 CUP 4,881
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
-79.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$701 CUP 16.8K
$675 Rp 12.1M
3.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$945 CUP 22.7K
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-72.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$588 CUP 14.1K
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
-71.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$336 CUP 8,053
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
-88.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$359 CUP 8,616
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
-84.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$54.6 CUP 1,311
$165 Rp 3.0M
-66.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15
13.28
12.95%

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

Last update for Placetas: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $203 in Placetas and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ubud, Bali pays 202% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $14.00 in Placetas vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $302 per month, with Placetas cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Placetas vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Placetas or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Placetas. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Placetas or Ubud, Bali?
On paper, Ubud, Bali earns 202% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Placetas vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $203 in Placetas versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Placetas compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $1,564 per month in Placetas versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Placetas vs Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 152% less than in Placetas. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Placetas or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,564 in Placetas, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Placetas. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Placetas or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,419 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Placetas compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Placetas 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 10% less than in Placetas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Placetas vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities