Cost of Living Comparison Between Pretoria and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Pretoria and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,370 per month in Pretoria vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,090 per month in Pretoria vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,811 per month in Pretoria vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Pretoria is about 2% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Pretoria and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Pretoria by 0%, Ubud, Bali by 2%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pretoria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.58 R 154
$3.37 Rp 59.9K
184.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.57 R 636
$38.59 Rp 685.5K
2.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.52 R 88.6
$5.52 Rp 98.1K
-
Cappuccino
$2.28 R 36.62
$2.64 Rp 47.0K
-13.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 R 17.31
$1.67 Rp 29.7K
-35.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 R 14.52
$0.77 Rp 13.7K
16.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 R 42.57
$2.63 Rp 46.8K
0.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 R 53.8
$4.28 Rp 76.1K
-21.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pretoria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 R 19.14
$1.55 Rp 27.5K
-23.23%
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 R 17.91
$2.22 Rp 39.5K
-50.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.89 R 30.34
$1.13 Rp 20.0K
67.26%
Eggs
$2.53 R 40.70
$2.09 Rp 37.1K
21.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.56 R 137
$17.39 Rp 309.0K
-50.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.99 R 80.2
$3.87 Rp 68.7K
28.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.51 R 121
$12.55 Rp 222.9K
-40.16%
Apples (1kg)
$1.92 R 30.91
$3.62 Rp 64.2K
-46.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 R 26.63
$1.56 Rp 27.7K
6.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 R 28.84
$2.35 Rp 41.8K
-23.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.68 R 26.99
$2.06 Rp 36.5K
-18.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 R 19.15
$1.90 Rp 33.7K
-37.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.22 R 19.63
$2.34 Rp 41.5K
-47.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 R 20.04
$1.03 Rp 18.3K
21.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 R 22.15
$0.55 Rp 9,854
150.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.33 R 53.5
$2.25 Rp 40.0K
48.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.13 R 82.4
$23.81 Rp 422.9K
-78.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 R 24.84
$2.31 Rp 41.1K
-32.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 R 32.98
$2.80 Rp 49.8K
-26.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Pretoria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.73 R 75.9
$0.27 Rp 4,839
1651.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$180 R 2,891
$8.66 Rp 153.9K
1978.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.32 R 5.17
$0.48 Rp 8,554
-33.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 R 12.79
$0.45 Rp 7,924
77.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.15 R 243
$5.72 Rp 101.6K
164.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 R 24.64
$0.76 Rp 13.5K
101.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K R 578.0K
$24.5K Rp 434.9M
46.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K R 569.1K
$32.1K Rp 570.6M
10.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pretoria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$154 R 2,472
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
84.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.44 R 601
$6.46 Rp 114.7K
479.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.80 R 607
$18.99 Rp 337.4K
99.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pretoria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.04 R 531
$56.0 Rp 994.4K
-40.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.86 R 175
$18.62 Rp 330.7K
-41.68%
Cinema Ticket
$7.25 R 116
$4.28 Rp 76.1K
69.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pretoria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$267 R 4,284
$487 Rp 8.6M
-45.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,119 R 130.4K
$5,856 Rp 104.0M
38.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pretoria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 R 880
$45.56 Rp 809.3K
20.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.45 R 521
$36.38 Rp 646.3K
-10.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.4 R 1,517
$82.0 Rp 1.5M
15.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.2 R 1,368
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
5.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pretoria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 R 7,648
$1,117 Rp 19.8M
-57.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$410 R 6,592
$701 Rp 12.5M
-41.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 R 15.7K
$3,537 Rp 62.8M
-72.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 R 12.4K
$1,762 Rp 31.3M
-56.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$905 R 14.5K
$2,826 Rp 50.2M
-67.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$719 R 11.6K
$2,292 Rp 40.7M
-68.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pretoria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,417 R 22.8K
$170 Rp 3.0M
734.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
13.78
-17.71%

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

Last update for Pretoria: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Pretoria 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 735% higher in Pretoria, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Pretoria versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $199 in Pretoria vs $293 in Ubud, Bali – so Pretoria wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Pretoria vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Pretoria?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,054 per month in Pretoria and $2,095 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pretoria, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 1979% less in Pretoria. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $267 per month in Pretoria and $487 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Pretoria or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pretoria, where all-in costs run around $1,370, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Pretoria it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Pretoria or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Pretoria – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Pretoria or Ubud, Bali?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Pretoria. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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