😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,544 in Placetas versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,896 in Placetas versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,247 in Placetas versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Placetas is roughly 13% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Placetas13% above, Ubud, Bali0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.77CUP 354
$3.44Rp 61.0K
329.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.25CUP 318
$36.31Rp 644.2K
-63.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.82CUP 164
$5.71Rp 101.2K
19.44%
Cappuccino
$3.07CUP 73.7
$2.67Rp 47.4K
14.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14CUP 75.5
$1.75Rp 31.0K
79.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79CUP 43.04
$0.87Rp 15.5K
105.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.06CUP 122
$2.95Rp 52.4K
71.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.86CUP 165
$4.52Rp 80.2K
51.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.03CUP 48.83
$1.62Rp 28.7K
25.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.99CUP 47.75
$2.33Rp 41.3K
-14.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.97CUP 23.39
$1.11Rp 19.6K
-12.61%
Eggs
$1.23CUP 29.43
$2.20Rp 39.0K
-44.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.56CUP 181
$17.69Rp 313.9K
-57.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.99CUP 71.7
$4.10Rp 72.7K
-27.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.24CUP 294
$12.18Rp 216.0K
0.49%
Apples(1kg)
$1.82CUP 43.59
$3.71Rp 65.8K
-50.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11CUP 26.73
$1.59Rp 28.2K
-30.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75CUP 41.99
$2.28Rp 40.5K
-23.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.08CUP 25.86
$1.95Rp 34.7K
-44.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01CUP 24.27
$1.91Rp 33.8K
-47.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.01CUP 24.29
$2.33Rp 41.4K
-56.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01CUP 24.31
$1.01Rp 17.9K
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02CUP 24.52
$0.55Rp 9,791
85.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.09CUP 74.1
$2.23Rp 39.6K
38.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.12CUP 243
$23.07Rp 409.3K
-56.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05CUP 49.20
$2.42Rp 42.9K
-15.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08CUP 73.9
$3.00Rp 53.2K
2.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22CUP 5.32
$0.27Rp 4,823
-18.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.90CUP 478
$8.98Rp 159.4K
121.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.99CUP 120
$0.48Rp 8,582
939.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42CUP 10.02
$0.43Rp 7,693
-2.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.16CUP 364
$5.64Rp 100.1K
168.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28CUP 30.61
$0.80Rp 14.3K
60.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$77.6KCUP 1.9M
$24.9KRp 442.5M
211.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$68.9KCUP 1.7M
$31.7KRp 562.6M
117.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$34.46CUP 827
$81.5Rp 1.4M
-57.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.72CUP 353
$6.49Rp 115.2K
126.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$221CUP 5,306
$18.77Rp 333.0K
1077.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.68CUP 952
$56.9Rp 1.0M
-30.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.85CUP 236
$18.73Rp 332.3K
-47.41%
Cinema Ticket
$0.99CUP 23.67
$4.54Rp 80.5K
-78.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$122CUP 2,924
$481Rp 8.5M
-74.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.9KCUP 262.0K
$5,711Rp 101.3M
91.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.82CUP 1,076
$45.52Rp 807.5K
-1.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.17CUP 724
$35.88Rp 636.6K
-15.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$50.6CUP 1,214
$80.4Rp 1.4M
-37.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.5CUP 1,572
$78.7Rp 1.4M
-16.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$203CUP 4,877
$1,115Rp 19.8M
-81.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$698CUP 16.8K
$698Rp 12.4M
0.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$939CUP 22.5K
$3,637Rp 64.5M
-74.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$603CUP 14.5K
$1,737Rp 30.8M
-65.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$334CUP 8,010
$2,784Rp 49.4M
-88.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$367CUP 8,807
$2,290Rp 40.6M
-83.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$53.1CUP 1,274
$168Rp 3.0M
-68.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15
13.78
8.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Placetas: September 14, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $203 in Placetas and $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ubud, Bali pays 216% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $13.00 in Placetas vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $295 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 13% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
On paper, salaries run 216% lower in Ubud, Bali. 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 compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $203 in Placetas versus $1,115 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 $1,544 per month in Placetas versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Placetas compared to Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 122% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,544 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 $1,368 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 13% less than in Placetas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.