🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,047 in Port Shepstone versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,638 in Port Shepstone versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,228 in Port Shepstone versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Port Shepstone costs roughly 25% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Port Shepstone is 24% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.23R 132
$3.37Rp 59.7K
144.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.09R 641
$38.59Rp 682.4K
3.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.86R 93.7
$5.52Rp 97.6K
6.16%
Cappuccino
$2.79R 44.60
$2.64Rp 46.8K
5.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14R 18.28
$1.67Rp 29.6K
-31.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89R 14.19
$0.77Rp 13.6K
15.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51R 40.22
$2.63Rp 46.6K
-4.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80R 44.75
$4.28Rp 75.7K
-34.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.96R 15.31
$1.55Rp 27.3K
-38.06%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68R 10.92
$2.22Rp 39.3K
-69.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.22R 19.55
$1.13Rp 19.9K
7.96%
Eggs
$1.47R 23.46
$2.09Rp 36.9K
-29.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.35R 118
$17.39Rp 307.6K
-57.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65R 58.4
$3.87Rp 68.4K
-5.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.48R 120
$12.55Rp 221.9K
-40.40%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23R 19.65
$3.62Rp 63.9K
-66.02%
Banana(1kg)
$0.77R 12.37
$1.56Rp 27.6K
-50.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.61R 9.70
$2.35Rp 41.6K
-74.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60R 25.51
$2.06Rp 36.4K
-22.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.61R 9.68
$1.90Rp 33.6K
-67.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.49R 23.79
$2.34Rp 41.3K
-36.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98R 15.65
$1.03Rp 18.2K
-4.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60R 9.59
$0.55Rp 9,809
9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.72R 59.5
$2.25Rp 39.8K
65.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.89R 78.2
$23.81Rp 421.0K
-79.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51R 24.12
$2.31Rp 40.9K
-34.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00R 32.05
$2.80Rp 49.5K
-28.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.58R 25.21
$0.27Rp 4,816
485.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.66Rp 153.2K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45R 7.23
$0.48Rp 8,515
-6.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.78R 12.41
$0.45Rp 7,887
73.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.96R 127
$5.72Rp 101.1K
39.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38R 22.12
$0.76Rp 13.4K
81.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5KR 599.1K
$24.5KRp 433.0M
53.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3KR 531.9K
$32.1KRp 568.0M
3.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123R 1,966
$83.6Rp 1.5M
47.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.90R 302
$6.46Rp 114.2K
192.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.89R 606
$18.99Rp 335.9K
99.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.56R 537
$56.0Rp 989.8K
-40.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.62Rp 329.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.88R 110
$4.28Rp 75.7K
60.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$342R 5,467
$487Rp 8.6M
-29.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,371R 117.9K
$5,856Rp 103.6M
25.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.1R 849
$45.56Rp 805.6K
16.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.29R 532
$36.38Rp 643.3K
-8.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102R 1,636
$82.0Rp 1.4M
24.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4R 1,462
$80.4Rp 1.4M
13.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$399R 6,382
$1,117Rp 19.7M
-64.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$384R 6,136
$701Rp 12.4M
-45.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$750R 12.0K
$3,537Rp 62.5M
-78.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$761R 12.2K
$1,762Rp 31.2M
-56.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$883R 14.1K
$2,826Rp 50.0M
-68.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$653R 10.5K
$2,292Rp 40.5M
-71.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,063R 49.0K
$170Rp 3.0M
1704.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.66
13.78
-15.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Port Shepstone: August 31, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $399 in Port Shepstone and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Port Shepstone pays 1704% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $40.00 in Port Shepstone vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $148 vs $293, with Port Shepstone 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
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 33% 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 1704% 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: $399 in Port Shepstone versus $1,117 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 $342 in Port Shepstone 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 Port Shepstone and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Port Shepstone – a meal for two runs $40.00 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 Port Shepstone or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,047 in Port Shepstone versus $1,396 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 $1,047 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 33% 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