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 $2,980 per month in Port Vila vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,025 per month in Port Vila vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,070 per month in Port Vila vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Port Vila costs about 112% 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 5%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.23 VUV 1,307

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

225.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.2 VUV 7,473

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

98.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.37 VUV 1,091

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

93.60%

Cappuccino

$5.06 VUV 590

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

84.00%

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

$2.18 VUV 253

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

57.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 VUV 197

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

125.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.42 VUV 515

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

47.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.19 VUV 488

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

8.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 VUV 258

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

27.59%

White Bread (500g)

$2.48 VUV 289

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

0.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.85 VUV 448

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

229.06%

Eggs

$5.19 VUV 604

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

113.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.31 VUV 2,364

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

40.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.40 VUV 2,142

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

322.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.41 VUV 2,143

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

53.67%

Apples (1kg)

$4.82 VUV 561

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

29.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 VUV 243

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

28.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.08 VUV 708

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

121.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.55 VUV 297

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

13.84%

Potato (1kg)

$4.24 VUV 494

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

120.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.08 VUV 243

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

-8.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 VUV 301

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

144.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 VUV 123

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

45.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 VUV 1,047

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

173.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.67 VUV 1,475

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

-45.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 VUV 348

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

7.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 VUV 351

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

10.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.69 VUV 197

$0.27 Rp 4,778

525.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.6 VUV 7,758

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

721.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.15 VUV 251

$0.48 Rp 8,659

347.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 VUV 95.8

$0.42 Rp 7,532

95.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.04 VUV 587

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

-18.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.85 VUV 215

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

128.40%

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

$23.5K VUV 2.7M

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

-11.76%

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

$38.0K VUV 4.4M

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

18.16%

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

$542 VUV 63.1K

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

591.88%

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

$24.94 VUV 2,903

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

512.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$226 VUV 26.3K

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

829.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.52 VUV 1,923

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

160.57%

Cinema Ticket

$12.55 VUV 1,461

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

214.54%

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

$620 VUV 72.1K

$305 Rp 5.5M

103.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,934 VUV 807.2K

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

4.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.05 VUV 5,361

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

-14.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.3 VUV 7,839

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

78.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,894 VUV 220.5K

$992 Rp 17.8M

90.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,412 VUV 164.3K

$673 Rp 12.1M

109.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,379 VUV 393.4K

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

0.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,063 VUV 240.2K

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

0.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,092 VUV 709.2K

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

117.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,199 VUV 256.0K

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

-1.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$689 VUV 80.2K

$167 Rp 3.0M

312.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

-47.29%

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

Last update for Port Vila: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,894 in Port Vila versus $992 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 313% 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 $64.0 in Port Vila versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $451 vs $297 – 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 112% 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 $4,470 per month in Port Vila and $2,112 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 $2,980 in Port Vila and $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 722% 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 $1,408, than in Port Vila at $2,980. 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 $1,408 versus $2,980 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.