😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,580 in Placetas versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,896 in Placetas versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,212 in Placetas versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Placetas is roughly 12% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Placetas18% above, Ubud, Bali5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.07CUP 362
$3.45Rp 61.8K
336.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.51CUP 324
$32.34Rp 578.5K
-58.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.08CUP 170
$4.84Rp 86.7K
46.28%
Cappuccino
$3.04CUP 72.9
$2.75Rp 49.1K
10.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15CUP 75.7
$1.38Rp 24.8K
128.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86CUP 44.70
$0.75Rp 13.4K
148.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.07CUP 122
$2.99Rp 53.5K
69.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95CUP 70.9
$3.85Rp 68.9K
-23.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.96CUP 46.94
$1.74Rp 31.1K
12.64%
White Bread(500g)
$2.01CUP 48.32
$2.46Rp 44.0K
-18.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.97CUP 23.36
$1.17Rp 20.9K
-17.09%
Eggs
$1.19CUP 28.55
$2.43Rp 43.5K
-51.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.64CUP 183
$14.50Rp 259.5K
-47.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.99CUP 71.7
$4.35Rp 77.8K
-31.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.24CUP 294
$11.98Rp 214.3K
2.17%
Apples(1kg)
$1.87CUP 44.84
$3.72Rp 66.5K
-49.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07CUP 25.75
$1.63Rp 29.1K
-34.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.68CUP 40.26
$2.74Rp 49.1K
-38.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.08CUP 25.82
$2.24Rp 40.1K
-51.79%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99CUP 23.68
$1.92Rp 34.3K
-48.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02CUP 24.43
$2.28Rp 40.7K
-55.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02CUP 24.42
$1.06Rp 19.0K
-3.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03CUP 24.67
$0.72Rp 12.9K
43.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07CUP 73.6
$3.29Rp 58.8K
-6.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.86CUP 237
$23.19Rp 414.9K
-57.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06CUP 49.34
$2.78Rp 49.7K
-25.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04CUP 73.0
$2.73Rp 48.9K
11.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17CUP 4.09
$0.27Rp 4,765
-37.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.23CUP 485
$8.11Rp 145.0K
149.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.97CUP 119
$0.48Rp 8,636
935.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.39CUP 9.27
$0.42Rp 7,511
-7.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.97CUP 359
$6.22Rp 111.3K
140.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23CUP 29.49
$0.81Rp 14.6K
51.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$77.5KCUP 1.9M
$26.6KRp 476.1M
191.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$68.8KCUP 1.7M
$32.2KRp 575.9M
113.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$34.92CUP 838
$78.4Rp 1.4M
-55.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.82CUP 356
$4.07Rp 72.8K
264.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$221CUP 5,315
$24.33Rp 435.2K
810.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.62CUP 951
$98.6Rp 1.8M
-59.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.83CUP 236
$6.34Rp 113.3K
55.05%
Cinema Ticket
$0.97CUP 23.33
$3.99Rp 71.3K
-75.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$118CUP 2,844
$305Rp 5.5M
-61.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.9KCUP 260.9K
$6,642Rp 118.8M
63.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.12CUP 1,059
$54.1Rp 968.6K
-18.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.56CUP 733
$37.81Rp 676.3K
-19.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$49.54CUP 1,189
$86.8Rp 1.6M
-42.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.7CUP 1,577
$76.4Rp 1.4M
-13.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$197CUP 4,720
$992Rp 17.7M
-80.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$707CUP 17.0K
$673Rp 12.0M
5.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$942CUP 22.6K
$3,375Rp 60.4M
-72.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$599CUP 14.4K
$2,050Rp 36.7M
-70.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$335CUP 8,051
$2,805Rp 50.2M
-88.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$364CUP 8,745
$2,227Rp 39.8M
-83.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$54.4CUP 1,306
$167Rp 3.0M
-67.41%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $197 in Placetas and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ubud, Bali pays 207% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $297 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 12% 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 207% 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: $197 in Placetas versus $992 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 $1,580 per month in Placetas versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – a 12% 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 149% 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 $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,580 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 $1,408 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 12% less than in Placetas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.