😐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: Placetas17% above, Ubud, Bali6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.76CUP 354
$3.56Rp 63.7K
314.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.61CUP 327
$32.73Rp 584.5K
-58.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.91CUP 166
$4.95Rp 88.4K
39.60%
Cappuccino
$3.03CUP 72.7
$2.71Rp 48.4K
11.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08CUP 73.9
$1.34Rp 24.0K
129.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86CUP 44.58
$0.70Rp 12.5K
165.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.86CUP 117
$2.92Rp 52.1K
66.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99CUP 71.7
$3.96Rp 70.7K
-24.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.98CUP 47.54
$1.81Rp 32.3K
9.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.94CUP 46.57
$2.52Rp 45.0K
-23.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02CUP 24.55
$1.16Rp 20.7K
-12.07%
Eggs
$1.17CUP 27.98
$2.46Rp 43.9K
-52.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.46CUP 179
$14.71Rp 262.7K
-49.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.10CUP 74.4
$4.32Rp 77.1K
-28.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.13CUP 291
$12.14Rp 216.7K
-0.08%
Apples(1kg)
$1.83CUP 43.89
$3.84Rp 68.6K
-52.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.13CUP 27.02
$1.56Rp 27.8K
-27.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.68CUP 40.24
$2.83Rp 50.6K
-40.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.07CUP 25.72
$2.33Rp 41.5K
-54.08%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97CUP 23.32
$1.91Rp 34.2K
-49.21%
Onion(1kg)
$0.98CUP 23.57
$2.20Rp 39.3K
-55.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97CUP 23.36
$1.01Rp 18.1K
-3.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99CUP 23.66
$0.78Rp 13.8K
26.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.08CUP 73.9
$3.32Rp 59.2K
-7.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.86CUP 237
$23.74Rp 423.9K
-58.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97CUP 47.18
$2.79Rp 49.8K
-29.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94CUP 70.7
$2.86Rp 51.1K
2.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22CUP 5.20
$0.27Rp 4,800
-18.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.23CUP 485
$8.03Rp 143.4K
151.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.04CUP 121
$0.46Rp 8,150
995.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.41CUP 9.93
$0.45Rp 8,037
-8.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.22CUP 365
$6.10Rp 108.9K
149.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26CUP 30.35
$0.79Rp 14.2K
59.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$76.5KCUP 1.8M
$26.1KRp 467.0M
192.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$68.0KCUP 1.6M
$32.1KRp 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)
$34.56CUP 830
$79.9Rp 1.4M
-56.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.96CUP 359
$4.06Rp 72.6K
268.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$218CUP 5,223
$23.52Rp 420.0K
825.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.45CUP 947
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-60.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.09CUP 242
$6.63Rp 118.4K
52.19%
Cinema Ticket
$0.99CUP 23.69
$4.15Rp 74.1K
-76.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$121CUP 2,913
$304Rp 5.4M
-60.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8KCUP 259.7K
$6,613Rp 118.1M
63.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.17CUP 1,084
$55.5Rp 991.8K
-18.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.46CUP 731
$38.31Rp 684.1K
-20.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$49.54CUP 1,189
$88.6Rp 1.6M
-44.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.0CUP 1,536
$77.9Rp 1.4M
-17.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$203CUP 4,881
$1,006Rp 18.0M
-79.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$701CUP 16.8K
$675Rp 12.1M
3.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$945CUP 22.7K
$3,442Rp 61.5M
-72.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$588CUP 14.1K
$2,039Rp 36.4M
-71.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$336CUP 8,053
$2,841Rp 50.7M
-88.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$359CUP 8,616
$2,264Rp 40.4M
-84.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Placetas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$54.6CUP 1,311
$165Rp 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.