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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,632 in Pohnpei versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,553 in Pohnpei versus $2,327 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,474 in Pohnpei versus $3,275 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Pohnpei is roughly 18% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Pohnpei 18% above, Ubud, Bali 0% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.71 $11.71

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

251.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.57 $45.57

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

27.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 $7.56

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

34.28%

Cappuccino

$3.04 $3.04

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

7.80%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

-27.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.11 $4.11

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

413.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 $2.94

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

-31.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.25 $0.25

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

-84.47%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

49.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

165.81%

Eggs

$7.33 $7.33

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

237.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.95 $6.95

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

-60.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.94 $4.94

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

21.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.31 $11.31

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

-7.14%

Apples (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

61.05%

Banana (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

108.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.45 $5.45

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

135.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

Potato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

170.11%

Onion (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

113.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.76 $3.76

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

258.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.54 Rp 9,560

79.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.02 $9.02

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

292.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

-86.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

-19.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.99 $0.99

$0.25 Rp 4,365

296.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.08 $5.08

$0.49 Rp 8,631

936.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.47 Rp 8,349

155.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.99 $3.99

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

-28.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.75 $3.75

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

362.96%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$137 $137

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

65.01%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$40.69 $40.69

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

526.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$194 $194

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

934.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.67 $19.67

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

-64.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$50.5 $50.5

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

177.38%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$167 $167

$494 Rp 8.7M

-66.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.2 $81.2

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

75.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.3 $68.3

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

87.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 $108

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

34.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.3 $98.3

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

24.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 $891

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

-19.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$610 $610

$693 Rp 12.2M

-12.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

-56.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,210 $1,210

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

-29.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$360 $360

$167 Rp 2.9M

115.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

360000

13.78

2612381.86%

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

Last update for Pohnpei: September 7, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $891 in Pohnpei and $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pohnpei pays 116% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $46.00 in Pohnpei vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $294, with Pohnpei 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

Pohnpei vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 116% higher in Pohnpei, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $891 in Pohnpei versus $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Pohnpei pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,632 per month in Pohnpei versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,632 in Pohnpei, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Pohnpei. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Pohnpei, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Pohnpei 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.

Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Pohnpei. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.