🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $900 in Potchefstroom versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,319 in Potchefstroom versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,737 in Potchefstroom versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Potchefstroom costs roughly 37% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Potchefstroom is 33% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.27R 104
$3.57Rp 61.6K
75.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.80R 460
$32.58Rp 562.6K
-14.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.59R 76.0
$5.07Rp 87.5K
-9.47%
Cappuccino
$1.67R 27.64
$2.83Rp 48.8K
-40.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07R 17.65
$1.34Rp 23.1K
-20.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69R 11.47
$0.69Rp 12.0K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.18R 36.08
$2.99Rp 51.6K
-27.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11R 18.29
$3.85Rp 66.4K
-71.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10R 18.19
$1.74Rp 30.1K
-36.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02R 16.83
$2.54Rp 43.8K
-59.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64R 27.18
$1.19Rp 20.6K
37.82%
Eggs
$2.21R 36.59
$2.43Rp 41.9K
-9.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.18R 119
$14.66Rp 253.2K
-51.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.26R 70.5
$4.18Rp 72.1K
1.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.48R 107
$11.94Rp 206.1K
-45.73%
Apples(1kg)
$1.43R 23.62
$3.69Rp 63.6K
-61.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36R 22.54
$1.61Rp 27.7K
-15.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.67R 27.62
$2.69Rp 46.4K
-37.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.09R 18.04
$2.33Rp 40.2K
-53.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37R 22.75
$1.91Rp 32.9K
-28.27%
Onion(1kg)
$0.98R 16.29
$2.19Rp 37.7K
-55.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08R 17.86
$1.06Rp 18.3K
1.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99R 16.44
$0.72Rp 12.5K
37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.75R 45.50
$3.13Rp 54.1K
-12.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.18R 69.1
$23.49Rp 405.6K
-82.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99R 16.32
$2.74Rp 47.3K
-63.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77R 29.31
$2.88Rp 49.7K
-38.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.07R 17.73
$0.29Rp 5,010
268.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.17Rp 141.0K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.98R 16.28
$0.45Rp 7,834
117.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.92R 15.28
$0.42Rp 7,278
119.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.03R 50.2
$6.16Rp 106.3K
-50.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26R 20.93
$0.84Rp 14.5K
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KR 321.7K
$26.2KRp 453.1M
-25.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0KR 430.8K
$32.5KRp 560.8M
-19.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$126R 2,090
$78.4Rp 1.4M
61.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.48R 471
$3.95Rp 68.2K
621.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.54R 621
$24.40Rp 421.4K
53.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.51R 472
$96.5Rp 1.7M
-70.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.82R 46.72
$6.35Rp 109.6K
-55.59%
Cinema Ticket
$5.56R 92.0
$4.04Rp 69.7K
37.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$114R 1,881
$303Rp 5.2M
-62.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,137R 68.5K
$6,523Rp 112.6M
-36.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.23R 418
$53.8Rp 929.5K
-53.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.23R 318
$37.98Rp 655.8K
-49.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.2R 1,327
$86.8Rp 1.5M
-7.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.3R 1,065
$78.9Rp 1.4M
-18.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$258R 4,275
$1,012Rp 17.5M
-74.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$294R 4,874
$674Rp 11.6M
-56.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$426R 7,055
$3,390Rp 58.5M
-87.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$486R 8,049
$2,098Rp 36.2M
-76.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$730R 12.1K
$2,985Rp 51.5M
-75.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$708R 11.7K
$2,339Rp 40.4M
-69.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Potchefstroom
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$895R 14.8K
$173Rp 3.0M
416.98%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $258 in Potchefstroom and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Potchefstroom pays 417% 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 $165 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 60% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Potchefstroom or Ubud, Bali?
Potchefstroom pays 417% 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: $258 in Potchefstroom versus $1,012 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 80% 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 $900 per month in Potchefstroom versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali – a 60% 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 $900 in Potchefstroom versus $1,438 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 60% 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