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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $805 per month in Popayan vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,223 per month in Popayan vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,640 per month in Popayan vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Popayan is about 43% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Popayan sits 40% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 COP 14.2K

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

11.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.01 COP 85.7K

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

-26.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.18 COP 25.6K

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

45.05%

Cappuccino

$1.51 COP 5,406

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

-44.28%

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

$0.86 COP 3,073

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

-35.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 COP 2,069

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

-17.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 COP 4,101

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

-60.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 COP 7,573

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

-46.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,757

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

-41.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,447

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

-50.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 COP 4,199

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

1.72%

Eggs

$2.21 COP 7,887

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

-10.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.54 COP 16.2K

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

-69.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.18 COP 18.5K

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

19.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.14 COP 25.5K

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

-41.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.43 COP 8,678

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

-36.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,818

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

-31.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,843

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

-51.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.85 COP 3,022

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

-63.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,980

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

-41.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,009

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

-49.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 COP 3,149

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

-12.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 COP 2,279

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

-17.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.31 COP 8,264

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

-30.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.38 COP 37.1K

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

-56.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 COP 4,046

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

-59.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 COP 6,437

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

-37.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 COP 2,461

$0.27 Rp 4,800

155.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.66 COP 105.9K

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

269.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 COP 5,214

$0.46 Rp 8,150

217.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 COP 6,104

$0.45 Rp 8,037

280.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.15 COP 21.9K

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

0.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,543

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

25.32%

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

$17.9K COP 63.9M

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

-31.62%

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

$25.5K COP 91.2M

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

-20.47%

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

$83.5 COP 298.2K

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

4.47%

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

$8.86 COP 31.6K

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

118.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.84 COP 81.6K

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

-2.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.53 COP 84.0K

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-76.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

-5.30%

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

$241 COP 861.1K

$304 Rp 5.4M

-20.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,042 COP 21.6M

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

-8.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.4 COP 208.4K

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

5.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.94 COP 117.6K

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

-14.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.9 COP 296.0K

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

-6.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.8 COP 259.8K

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

-6.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 COP 1.0M

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

-71.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 COP 863.9K

$675 Rp 12.1M

-64.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$525 COP 1.9M

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

-84.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$423 COP 1.5M

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

-79.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,434 COP 5.1M

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

-49.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,260 COP 4.5M

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

-44.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.18

13.28

-0.75%

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

Last update for Popayan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $284 in Popayan versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Popayan versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $172 vs $302 – making Popayan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $805 in Popayan, $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 76% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,207 per month in Popayan and $2,129 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Popayan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $241 per month in Popayan and $304 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 75% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Popayan, where all-in costs run around $805, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Popayan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $805 in Popayan to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Popayan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.