🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $924 in Port Shepstone versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,416 in Port Shepstone versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,909 in Port Shepstone versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Port Shepstone costs roughly 34% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Port Shepstone is 31% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.37R 122
$3.45Rp 62.1K
113.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.63R 456
$32.34Rp 581.1K
-14.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.13R 84.7
$4.84Rp 87.1K
5.99%
Cappuccino
$1.94R 31.98
$2.75Rp 49.4K
-29.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88R 14.56
$1.38Rp 24.9K
-36.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72R 11.84
$0.75Rp 13.5K
-4.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.98R 32.70
$2.99Rp 53.8K
-33.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20R 36.35
$3.85Rp 69.2K
-42.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.81R 13.32
$1.74Rp 31.2K
-53.45%
White Bread(500g)
$0.61R 10.03
$2.46Rp 44.2K
-75.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.10R 18.10
$1.17Rp 21.0K
-5.98%
Eggs
$1.37R 22.56
$2.43Rp 43.7K
-43.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.65R 110
$14.50Rp 260.6K
-54.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.41R 56.3
$4.35Rp 78.2K
-21.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.15R 101
$11.98Rp 215.3K
-48.66%
Apples(1kg)
$1.14R 18.78
$3.72Rp 66.8K
-69.35%
Banana(1kg)
$0.68R 11.27
$1.63Rp 29.2K
-58.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.58R 9.60
$2.74Rp 49.3K
-78.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36R 22.50
$2.24Rp 40.3K
-39.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.58R 9.56
$1.92Rp 34.5K
-69.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22R 20.13
$2.28Rp 40.9K
-46.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88R 14.53
$1.06Rp 19.1K
-16.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59R 9.67
$0.72Rp 12.9K
-18.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.14R 51.9
$3.29Rp 59.0K
-4.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.86R 80.1
$23.19Rp 416.8K
-79.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39R 22.89
$2.78Rp 49.9K
-50.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69R 27.91
$2.73Rp 49.1K
-38.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.63R 26.95
$0.27Rp 4,786
503.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.11Rp 145.7K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.72R 28.32
$0.48Rp 8,675
258.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.63R 10.33
$0.42Rp 7,545
50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.54R 108
$6.22Rp 111.8K
5.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29R 21.32
$0.81Rp 14.6K
59.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8KR 327.4K
$26.6KRp 478.2M
-25.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KR 391.7K
$32.2KRp 578.5M
-26.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$112R 1,843
$78.4Rp 1.4M
42.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.11R 282
$4.07Rp 73.1K
320.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.84R 559
$24.33Rp 437.1K
39.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.93R 477
$98.6Rp 1.8M
-70.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.34Rp 113.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.70R 111
$3.99Rp 71.6K
67.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$204R 3,365
$305Rp 5.5M
-33.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,591R 75.8K
$6,642Rp 119.4M
-30.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.42R 684
$54.1Rp 972.9K
-23.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.03R 496
$37.81Rp 679.4K
-20.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.8R 1,532
$86.8Rp 1.6M
6.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.0R 1,188
$76.4Rp 1.4M
-5.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$357R 5,897
$992Rp 17.8M
-63.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$328R 5,412
$673Rp 12.1M
-51.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$690R 11.4K
$3,375Rp 60.7M
-79.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$697R 11.5K
$2,050Rp 36.8M
-66.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$877R 14.5K
$2,805Rp 50.4M
-68.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$709R 11.7K
$2,227Rp 40.0M
-68.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,038R 50.1K
$167Rp 3.0M
1719.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.01
13.28
-9.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Port Shepstone: July 12, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $357 in Port Shepstone and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Port Shepstone pays 1719% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $28.00 in Port Shepstone vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $133 vs $297 per month, with Port Shepstone cheaper across the board.
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
Port Shepstone vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Port Shepstone or Ubud, Bali?
Port Shepstone wins on cost – living expenses run 52% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Port Shepstone the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Port Shepstone or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 1719% higher in Port Shepstone, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Port Shepstone compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $357 in Port Shepstone versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Port Shepstone and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $204 in Port Shepstone versus $305 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 Port Shepstone and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Port Shepstone – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $32.00 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 Port Shepstone or in Ubud, Bali?
At $924 in Port Shepstone versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Port Shepstone but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Port Shepstone the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Port Shepstone or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Port Shepstone delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $924 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Port Shepstone hard to pass up.
How safe is Port Shepstone compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Port Shepstone 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 Port Shepstone gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Port Shepstone vs other spots: cost of living compared