🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $890 in Potchefstroom versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,309 in Potchefstroom versus $2,557 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,728 in Potchefstroom versus $3,723 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Potchefstroom costs roughly 36% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Potchefstroom is 33% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.25R 104
$3.57Rp 64.6K
75.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.46R 474
$32.32Rp 584.4K
-11.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.68R 78.0
$5.01Rp 90.5K
-6.59%
Cappuccino
$1.62R 27.00
$2.82Rp 51.1K
-42.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02R 17.01
$1.35Rp 24.4K
-24.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70R 11.71
$0.73Rp 13.2K
-4.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.28R 38.00
$2.93Rp 53.0K
-22.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14R 18.96
$3.94Rp 71.2K
-71.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09R 18.20
$1.78Rp 32.2K
-38.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.07R 17.83
$2.45Rp 44.3K
-56.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55R 25.89
$1.15Rp 20.8K
34.78%
Eggs
$2.18R 36.34
$2.41Rp 43.7K
-9.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.11R 118
$14.33Rp 259.1K
-50.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.31R 71.8
$4.19Rp 75.7K
2.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.63R 110
$12.06Rp 218.1K
-45.02%
Apples(1kg)
$1.42R 23.62
$3.64Rp 65.8K
-60.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42R 23.59
$1.57Rp 28.3K
-9.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.66R 27.57
$2.79Rp 50.4K
-40.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.14R 18.98
$2.24Rp 40.5K
-49.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38R 22.91
$1.98Rp 35.8K
-30.30%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99R 16.49
$2.28Rp 41.2K
-56.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10R 18.25
$1.05Rp 19.1K
4.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04R 17.33
$0.79Rp 14.2K
31.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.79R 46.43
$3.19Rp 57.7K
-12.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.23R 70.4
$23.49Rp 424.8K
-81.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99R 16.55
$2.90Rp 52.4K
-65.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84R 30.62
$2.76Rp 49.8K
-33.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.04R 17.40
$0.27Rp 4,821
285.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.37Rp 151.3K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.99R 16.53
$0.45Rp 8,180
120.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99R 16.44
$0.46Rp 8,311
115.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.00R 49.97
$6.07Rp 109.7K
-50.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26R 20.97
$0.86Rp 15.6K
46.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KR 318.4K
$26.6KRp 480.7M
-28.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0KR 432.8K
$32.5KRp 588.6M
-20.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125R 2,086
$79.0Rp 1.4M
58.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.28R 471
$4.09Rp 74.0K
591.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.93R 632
$23.85Rp 431.2K
59.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.54R 475
$98.8Rp 1.8M
-71.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.88R 47.94
$6.35Rp 114.9K
-54.65%
Cinema Ticket
$5.57R 92.9
$4.01Rp 72.5K
38.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$115R 1,908
$297Rp 5.4M
-61.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,228R 70.4K
$6,602Rp 119.4M
-35.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.83R 414
$53.4Rp 966.0K
-53.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.87R 331
$38.11Rp 689.2K
-47.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.9R 1,348
$88.7Rp 1.6M
-8.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.7R 1,078
$76.6Rp 1.4M
-15.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$262R 4,366
$1,020Rp 18.4M
-74.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$299R 4,985
$680Rp 12.3M
-56.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$418R 6,959
$3,469Rp 62.7M
-87.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$499R 8,316
$2,090Rp 37.8M
-76.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$864R 14.4K
$2,729Rp 49.3M
-68.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$717R 11.9K
$2,295Rp 41.5M
-68.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$908R 15.1K
$164Rp 3.0M
454.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.69
13.28
-11.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Potchefstroom: July 26, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in Potchefstroom and $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Potchefstroom pays 455% 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 Potchefstroom vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $167 vs $298 per month, with Potchefstroom 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
Potchefstroom vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Potchefstroom?
Potchefstroom is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 56% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Potchefstroom or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 455% higher in Potchefstroom, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Potchefstroom and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $262 in Potchefstroom versus $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Potchefstroom and in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 78% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Potchefstroom and in Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $890 per month in Potchefstroom versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Potchefstroom or in Ubud, Bali?
At $890 in Potchefstroom versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Potchefstroom but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Potchefstroom the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Potchefstroom or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Potchefstroom is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Potchefstroom or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Potchefstroom 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Potchefstroom 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.
Potchefstroom vs other spots: cost of living compared