Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Vila and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Vila and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,983 per month in Port Vila vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,058 per month in Port Vila vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,134 per month in Port Vila vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Port Vila costs about 110% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Port Vila and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Port Vila by 123%, Ubud, Bali by 6%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Vila
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.14 VUV 1,282
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
212.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5 VUV 7,426
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
97.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.83 VUV 1,131
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
98.59%
Cappuccino
$5.25 VUV 604
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
93.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 VUV 247
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
60.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 VUV 200
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
148.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.42 VUV 508
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
51.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.23 VUV 486
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
6.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Vila
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 VUV 257
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
23.20%
White Bread (500g)
$2.50 VUV 288
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
-0.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.93 VUV 452
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
238.79%
Eggs
$5.18 VUV 596
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
110.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.04 VUV 2,306
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
36.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$18.57 VUV 2,137
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
329.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.19 VUV 2,094
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
49.84%
Apples (1kg)
$4.66 VUV 536
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
21.35%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 VUV 236
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
31.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.03 VUV 694
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
113.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 VUV 284
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
6.01%
Potato (1kg)
$4.40 VUV 506
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
130.37%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 VUV 251
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
-0.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.57 VUV 296
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
154.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 VUV 122
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
35.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.46 VUV 1,089
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
184.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.44 VUV 1,432
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-47.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.95 VUV 340
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
5.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 VUV 338
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
2.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Vila
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.72 VUV 198
$0.27 Rp 4,800
537.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$68.0 VUV 7,826
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
746.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 VUV 246
$0.46 Rp 8,150
365.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 VUV 94.9
$0.45 Rp 8,037
82.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.10 VUV 587
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
-16.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.89 VUV 217
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
139.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K VUV 2.7M
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
-11.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K VUV 4.4M
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
20.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Vila
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$531 VUV 61.1K
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
564.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.37 VUV 2,921
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
524.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$227 VUV 26.2K
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
866.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Vila
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.92 VUV 1,948
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
155.20%
Cinema Ticket
$12.71 VUV 1,463
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
206.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Vila
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$624 VUV 71.8K
$304 Rp 5.4M
105.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,796 VUV 782.2K
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
2.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Vila
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.92 VUV 5,286
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
-17.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.2 VUV 7,851
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
78.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Vila
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,882 VUV 216.6K
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
86.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,392 VUV 160.2K
$675 Rp 12.1M
106.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,353 VUV 385.9K
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-2.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,083 VUV 239.8K
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
2.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,040 VUV 695.3K
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
112.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,291 VUV 263.7K
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
1.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Vila
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$696 VUV 80.2K
$165 Rp 3.0M
321.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
13.28
-47.29%

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

Last update for Port Vila: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,882 in Port Vila 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.

Salaries run about 321% higher in Port Vila, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Port Vila versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $302 – making Ubud, Bali 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
Port Vila vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Port Vila or Ubud, Bali?
Port Vila costs about 110% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Port Vila vs Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,474 per month in Port Vila and $2,129 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Port Vila or Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Port Vila compared to Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,983 in Port Vila and $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Port Vila vs Ubud, Bali?
Public transport costs about 747% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Port Vila or Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,419, than in Port Vila at $2,983. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Vila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Port Vila or Ubud, Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,419 versus $2,983 in Port Vila. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Port Vila compared to Ubud, Bali?
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.
Should I move to Port Vila or Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Port Vila makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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