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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,307 in Pohang versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,611 in Pohang versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,915 in Pohang versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Pohang costs roughly 6% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Pohang is 5% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pohang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.81 ₩7,898
$3.37 Rp 59.9K
72.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.80 ₩29.6K
$38.59 Rp 685.5K
-43.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.59 ₩8,957
$5.52 Rp 98.1K
19.38%
Cappuccino
$2.87 ₩3,902
$2.64 Rp 47.0K
8.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 ₩1,951
$1.67 Rp 29.7K
-13.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ₩637
$0.77 Rp 13.7K
-38.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.54 ₩4,815
$2.63 Rp 46.8K
34.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57 ₩4,849
$4.28 Rp 76.1K
-16.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pohang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 ₩2,559
$1.55 Rp 27.5K
21.29%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 ₩4,304
$2.22 Rp 39.5K
42.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.48 ₩3,378
$1.13 Rp 20.0K
119.47%
Eggs
$2.64 ₩3,590
$2.09 Rp 37.1K
26.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.95 ₩14.9K
$17.39 Rp 309.0K
-37.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.49 ₩8,817
$3.87 Rp 68.7K
67.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.37 ₩33.1K
$12.55 Rp 222.9K
94.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.14 ₩2,905
$3.62 Rp 64.2K
-40.88%
Banana (1kg)
$3.49 ₩4,741
$1.56 Rp 27.7K
123.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.70 ₩10.5K
$2.35 Rp 41.8K
227.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.98 ₩4,044
$2.06 Rp 36.5K
44.66%
Potato (1kg)
$4.90 ₩6,663
$1.90 Rp 33.7K
157.89%
Onion (1kg)
$3.32 ₩4,519
$2.34 Rp 41.5K
41.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 ₩3,040
$1.03 Rp 18.3K
117.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 ₩1,761
$0.55 Rp 9,854
136.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.22 ₩4,373
$2.25 Rp 40.0K
43.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.42 ₩8,732
$23.81 Rp 422.9K
-73.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 ₩1,970
$2.31 Rp 41.1K
-37.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 ₩4,480
$2.80 Rp 49.8K
17.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Pohang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.27 Rp 4,839
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.66 Rp 153.9K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.38 ₩4,596
$0.48 Rp 8,554
604.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 ₩817
$0.45 Rp 7,924
33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.22 ₩22.0K
$5.72 Rp 101.6K
183.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ₩1,652
$0.76 Rp 13.5K
60.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K ₩39.2M
$24.5K Rp 434.9M
17.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9K ₩37.9M
$32.1K Rp 570.6M
-13.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pohang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.7 ₩132.8K
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
16.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.52 ₩48.3K
$6.46 Rp 114.7K
449.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.97 ₩35.3K
$18.99 Rp 337.4K
36.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pohang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.64 ₩38.9K
$56.0 Rp 994.4K
-48.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.20 ₩9,785
$18.62 Rp 330.7K
-61.33%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87 ₩14.8K
$4.28 Rp 76.1K
153.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pohang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$612 ₩831.6K
$487 Rp 8.6M
25.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.4K ₩29.2M
$5,856 Rp 104.0M
266.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pohang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 ₩137.3K
$45.56 Rp 809.3K
121.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.7 ₩86.6K
$36.38 Rp 646.3K
75.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.1 ₩125.2K
$82.0 Rp 1.5M
12.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₩150.6K
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
37.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pohang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,117 Rp 19.8M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₩616.6K
$701 Rp 12.5M
-35.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,537 Rp 62.8M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,762 Rp 31.3M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,826 Rp 50.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,891 ₩3.9M
$2,292 Rp 40.7M
26.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pohang
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,242 ₩3.0M
$170 Rp 3.0M
1220.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.22
13.78
-69.38%

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

Last update for Pohang: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Pohang pays 1220% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $22.00 in Pohang vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $359 vs $293, with Ubud, Bali cheaper for home cooking.

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
Pohang vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Pohang or Ubud, Bali?
Pohang wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pohang the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Pohang or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 1220% higher in Pohang, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do childcare costs compare in Pohang and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $612 in Pohang versus $487 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Pohang and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Pohang – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Pohang or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,307 in Pohang versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Pohang but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Pohang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Pohang or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Pohang delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,307 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Pohang hard to pass up.
How safe is Pohang compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Pohang 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 Pohang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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