🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $906 in Potchefstroom versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,323 in Potchefstroom versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,740 in Potchefstroom versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Potchefstroom costs roughly 35% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Potchefstroom is 33% below, Ubud, Bali is 4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.08R 98.3
$3.57Rp 64.0K
70.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.65R 447
$32.50Rp 582.3K
-14.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.53R 73.2
$4.86Rp 87.1K
-6.79%
Cappuccino
$1.62R 26.17
$2.75Rp 49.2K
-41.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02R 16.49
$1.32Rp 23.7K
-22.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68R 11.05
$0.70Rp 12.6K
-2.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.20R 35.49
$2.91Rp 52.2K
-24.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10R 17.80
$3.79Rp 68.0K
-70.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07R 17.23
$1.71Rp 30.6K
-37.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02R 16.48
$2.47Rp 44.3K
-58.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58R 25.57
$1.20Rp 21.5K
31.67%
Eggs
$2.17R 35.15
$2.44Rp 43.8K
-11.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.03R 114
$14.38Rp 257.7K
-51.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.19R 67.7
$4.31Rp 77.1K
-2.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.26R 101
$12.21Rp 218.7K
-48.73%
Apples(1kg)
$1.38R 22.23
$3.68Rp 66.0K
-62.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38R 22.36
$1.55Rp 27.8K
-10.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62R 26.17
$2.79Rp 49.9K
-41.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.15R 18.52
$2.33Rp 41.8K
-50.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32R 21.38
$1.97Rp 35.3K
-32.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.03R 16.62
$2.31Rp 41.4K
-55.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13R 18.20
$1.06Rp 19.1K
6.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04R 16.80
$0.73Rp 13.1K
42.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.85R 46.03
$3.28Rp 58.8K
-13.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.35R 70.3
$22.79Rp 408.4K
-80.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98R 15.88
$2.81Rp 50.3K
-65.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77R 28.61
$2.78Rp 49.9K
-36.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.07R 17.34
$0.29Rp 5,217
268.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.06Rp 144.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.04R 16.74
$0.45Rp 8,047
131.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.95R 15.34
$0.45Rp 8,094
111.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.12R 50.5
$6.24Rp 111.7K
-50.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20R 19.44
$0.85Rp 15.2K
41.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6KR 317.3K
$26.0KRp 465.4M
-24.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KR 416.5K
$31.7KRp 567.2M
-18.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$126R 2,039
$80.8Rp 1.4M
56.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.49R 444
$4.06Rp 72.7K
577.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.29R 619
$24.42Rp 437.6K
56.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.58R 462
$97.7Rp 1.7M
-70.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.75R 44.39
$6.45Rp 115.5K
-57.36%
Cinema Ticket
$5.59R 90.3
$4.04Rp 72.4K
38.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$117R 1,884
$304Rp 5.4M
-61.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,218R 68.2K
$6,621Rp 118.6M
-36.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.87R 402
$54.2Rp 971.7K
-54.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.22R 311
$38.78Rp 694.7K
-50.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.0R 1,277
$86.1Rp 1.5M
-8.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.7R 1,030
$76.7Rp 1.4M
-16.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$259R 4,194
$986Rp 17.7M
-73.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$300R 4,847
$658Rp 11.8M
-54.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$413R 6,678
$3,369Rp 60.4M
-87.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$496R 8,018
$2,066Rp 37.0M
-75.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$750R 12.1K
$2,741Rp 49.1M
-72.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$709R 11.5K
$2,228Rp 39.9M
-68.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$899R 14.5K
$163Rp 2.9M
449.96%
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: June 6, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $259 in Potchefstroom and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Potchefstroom pays 450% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $164 vs $297 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 55% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Potchefstroom or Ubud, Bali?
Potchefstroom pays 450% more on average, 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: $259 in Potchefstroom versus $986 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 Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 81% 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $906 per month in Potchefstroom versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali – a 55% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Potchefstroom or Ubud, Bali?
At $906 in Potchefstroom versus $1,404 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 55% 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