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 $3,162 per month in Port Vila vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,309 per month in Port Vila vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,456 per month in Port Vila vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Port Vila costs about 126% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Port Vila and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Port Vila by 130%, Ubud, Bali by 2%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.55 VUV 1,446

$3.37 Rp 59.7K

272.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.5 VUV 6,626

$38.59 Rp 682.4K

49.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.58 VUV 1,681

$5.52 Rp 97.6K

164.13%

Cappuccino

$4.14 VUV 477

$2.64 Rp 46.8K

56.82%

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

$2.27 VUV 261

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

35.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 VUV 282

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

218.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.97 VUV 573

$2.63 Rp 46.6K

88.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.03 VUV 810

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

64.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.74 VUV 316

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

76.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 VUV 217

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

-14.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.66 VUV 422

$1.13 Rp 19.9K

223.89%

Eggs

$6.35 VUV 731

$2.09 Rp 36.9K

203.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.86 VUV 2,058

$17.39 Rp 307.6K

2.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.17 VUV 1,864

$3.87 Rp 68.4K

317.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.93 VUV 1,605

$12.55 Rp 221.9K

11.00%

Apples (1kg)

$6.96 VUV 802

$3.62 Rp 63.9K

92.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.14 VUV 246

$1.56 Rp 27.6K

37.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.95 VUV 456

$2.35 Rp 41.6K

68.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.34 VUV 1,076

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

353.40%

Potato (1kg)

$8.81 VUV 1,015

$1.90 Rp 33.6K

363.68%

Onion (1kg)

$3.50 VUV 403

$2.34 Rp 41.3K

49.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 VUV 285

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

140.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 VUV 140

$0.55 Rp 9,809

120.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.19 VUV 1,059

$2.25 Rp 39.8K

308.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.65 VUV 1,458

$23.81 Rp 421.0K

-46.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 VUV 279

$2.31 Rp 40.9K

5.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 VUV 316

$2.80 Rp 49.5K

-1.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.26 VUV 145

$0.27 Rp 4,816

366.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.3 VUV 7,872

$8.66 Rp 153.2K

688.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 VUV 294

$0.48 Rp 8,515

433.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 VUV 92.1

$0.45 Rp 7,887

77.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.19 VUV 598

$5.72 Rp 101.1K

-9.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.74 VUV 201

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

128.95%

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

$23.1K VUV 2.7M

$24.5K Rp 433.0M

-5.64%

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

$38.5K VUV 4.4M

$32.1K Rp 568.0M

19.88%

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

$635 VUV 73.1K

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

659.53%

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

$22.76 VUV 2,623

$6.46 Rp 114.2K

252.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$366 VUV 42.2K

$18.99 Rp 335.9K

1829.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.6 VUV 7,787

$56.0 Rp 989.8K

20.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.59 VUV 1,912

$18.62 Rp 329.2K

-10.90%

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

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

$630 VUV 72.6K

$487 Rp 8.6M

29.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,806 VUV 784.3K

$5,856 Rp 103.6M

16.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.39 VUV 4,886

$45.56 Rp 805.6K

-6.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.3 VUV 7,876

$36.38 Rp 643.3K

87.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.8 VUV 9,544

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

1.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 VUV 11.9K

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

28.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,556 VUV 179.3K

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

39.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,147 VUV 132.2K

$701 Rp 12.4M

63.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,423 VUV 394.5K

$3,537 Rp 62.5M

-3.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 VUV 218.8K

$1,762 Rp 31.2M

7.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,073 VUV 699.8K

$2,826 Rp 50.0M

114.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,260 VUV 260.4K

$2,292 Rp 40.5M

-1.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$700 VUV 80.7K

$170 Rp 3.0M

312.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.18

13.78

-55.15%

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

Last update for Port Vila: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,556 in Port Vila versus $1,117 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 312% 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 $57.0 in Port Vila versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $473 vs $293 – 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

Port Vila costs about 126% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,742 per month in Port Vila and $2,095 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,162 in Port Vila and $1,396 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 689% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,396, than in Port Vila at $3,162. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Vila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,396 versus $3,162 in Port Vila. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 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.