🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $908 in Port Shepstone versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,426 in Port Shepstone versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,944 in Port Shepstone versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Port Shepstone costs roughly 36% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Port Shepstone is 32% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.68R 125
$3.56Rp 63.7K
115.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.56R 448
$32.73Rp 584.5K
-15.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.92R 80.0
$4.95Rp 88.4K
-0.61%
Cappuccino
$1.90R 30.82
$2.71Rp 48.4K
-29.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89R 14.53
$1.34Rp 24.0K
-33.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67R 10.95
$0.70Rp 12.5K
-4.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.99R 32.33
$2.92Rp 52.1K
-31.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22R 36.13
$3.96Rp 70.7K
-43.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82R 13.32
$1.81Rp 32.3K
-54.70%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66R 10.67
$2.52Rp 45.0K
-73.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11R 17.97
$1.16Rp 20.7K
-4.31%
Eggs
$1.30R 21.16
$2.46Rp 43.9K
-47.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.68R 109
$14.71Rp 262.7K
-54.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.35R 54.4
$4.32Rp 77.1K
-22.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.22R 101
$12.14Rp 216.7K
-48.76%
Apples(1kg)
$1.15R 18.63
$3.84Rp 68.6K
-70.05%
Banana(1kg)
$0.69R 11.28
$1.56Rp 27.8K
-55.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.58R 9.37
$2.83Rp 50.6K
-79.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.34R 21.85
$2.33Rp 41.5K
-42.49%
Potato(1kg)
$0.58R 9.50
$1.91Rp 34.2K
-69.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22R 19.83
$2.20Rp 39.3K
-44.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85R 13.85
$1.01Rp 18.1K
-15.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58R 9.37
$0.78Rp 13.8K
-25.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.16R 51.4
$3.32Rp 59.2K
-4.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.91R 79.8
$23.74Rp 423.9K
-79.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42R 23.03
$2.79Rp 49.8K
-49.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77R 28.78
$2.86Rp 51.1K
-38.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.63R 26.48
$0.27Rp 4,800
503.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.03Rp 143.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.73R 28.07
$0.46Rp 8,150
276.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.57R 9.29
$0.45Rp 8,037
26.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.65R 108
$6.10Rp 108.9K
9.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30R 21.19
$0.79Rp 14.2K
64.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8KR 322.4K
$26.1KRp 467.0M
-24.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9KR 388.9K
$32.1KRp 573.6M
-25.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$111R 1,808
$79.9Rp 1.4M
39.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.63R 270
$4.06Rp 72.6K
309.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.36R 542
$23.52Rp 420.0K
41.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.39R 478
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-70.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.63Rp 118.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.76R 110
$4.15Rp 74.1K
62.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$209R 3,394
$304Rp 5.4M
-31.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,683R 76.1K
$6,613Rp 118.1M
-29.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.64R 693
$55.5Rp 991.8K
-23.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.89R 486
$38.31Rp 684.1K
-21.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.5R 1,520
$88.6Rp 1.6M
5.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.1R 1,204
$77.9Rp 1.4M
-4.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$365R 5,925
$1,006Rp 18.0M
-63.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$340R 5,529
$675Rp 12.1M
-49.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$683R 11.1K
$3,442Rp 61.5M
-80.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$679R 11.0K
$2,039Rp 36.4M
-66.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$778R 12.6K
$2,841Rp 50.7M
-72.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$606R 9,844
$2,264Rp 40.4M
-73.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Shepstone
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,017R 49.0K
$165Rp 3.0M
1726.02%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $365 in Port Shepstone and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Port Shepstone pays 1726% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $134 vs $302 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 56% 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 Ubud, Bali?
Port Shepstone pays 1726% more on average, 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $365 in Port Shepstone versus $1,006 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 Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $209 in Port Shepstone versus $304 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Port Shepstone – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $33.00 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 Ubud, Bali?
At $908 in Port Shepstone versus $1,419 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 $908 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 56% 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