Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Plata and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Plata and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $836 per month in Puerto Plata vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,299 per month in Puerto Plata vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,761 per month in Puerto Plata vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Puerto Plata is about 40% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Puerto Plata sits 39% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.10 DOP 360

$3.37 Rp 59.5K

81.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.74 DOP 2,286

$38.59 Rp 680.4K

0.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 DOP 408

$5.52 Rp 97.3K

25.18%

Cappuccino

$1.24 DOP 73.0

$2.64 Rp 46.6K

-53.03%

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

$0.50 DOP 29.47

$1.67 Rp 29.5K

-70.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 DOP 37.53

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

-16.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 DOP 148

$2.63 Rp 46.4K

-4.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 DOP 199

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

-21.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 DOP 75.9

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

-16.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 DOP 92.8

$2.22 Rp 39.2K

-29.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.71 DOP 42.07

$1.13 Rp 19.8K

-37.17%

Eggs

$1.43 DOP 84.4

$2.09 Rp 36.8K

-31.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.51 DOP 266

$17.39 Rp 306.7K

-74.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.89 DOP 230

$3.87 Rp 68.2K

0.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.42 DOP 202

$12.55 Rp 221.3K

-72.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.33 DOP 78.5

$3.62 Rp 63.8K

-63.26%

Banana (1kg)

$0.65 DOP 38.34

$1.56 Rp 27.5K

-58.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.84 DOP 49.50

$2.35 Rp 41.5K

-64.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 DOP 41.03

$2.06 Rp 36.2K

-66.02%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 DOP 38.12

$1.90 Rp 33.5K

-65.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.89 DOP 52.6

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

-61.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 DOP 36.61

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

-39.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 DOP 57.8

$0.55 Rp 9,781

78.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.51 DOP 148

$2.25 Rp 39.7K

11.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.71 DOP 514

$23.81 Rp 419.8K

-63.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 DOP 136

$2.31 Rp 40.8K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 DOP 181

$2.80 Rp 49.4K

9.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 DOP 61.8

$0.27 Rp 4,803

288.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 152.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 DOP 205

$0.48 Rp 8,490

622.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 DOP 137

$0.45 Rp 7,865

417.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 DOP 341

$5.72 Rp 100.8K

1.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 DOP 72.4

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

61.84%

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

$24.0K DOP 1.4M

$24.5K Rp 431.7M

-2.13%

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

$34.7K DOP 2.0M

$32.1K Rp 566.4M

8.08%

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

$93.3 DOP 5,501

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

11.61%

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

$17.30 DOP 1,021

$6.46 Rp 113.8K

167.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.20 DOP 2,195

$18.99 Rp 334.9K

95.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 Rp 987.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 328.3K

Cinema Ticket

$7.65 DOP 452

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

78.74%

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

$255 DOP 15.1K

$487 Rp 8.6M

-47.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,105 DOP 419.2K

$5,856 Rp 103.3M

21.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.45 DOP 1,088

$45.56 Rp 803.3K

-59.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.35 DOP 788

$36.38 Rp 641.5K

-63.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 DOP 5,164

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

6.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 DOP 7,444

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

56.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$419 DOP 24.7K

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

-62.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 DOP 17.6K

$701 Rp 12.4M

-57.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,010 DOP 59.6K

$3,537 Rp 62.4M

-71.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 DOP 32.6K

$1,762 Rp 31.1M

-68.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 49.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.56

13.78

-1.60%

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

Last update for Puerto Plata: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $419 in Puerto Plata 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Puerto Plata versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $151 vs $293 – making Puerto Plata 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

Puerto Plata vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 67%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,255 per month in Puerto Plata and $2,095 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Puerto Plata, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Puerto Plata and $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 94% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Puerto Plata, where all-in costs run around $836, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Puerto Plata it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Puerto Plata – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Puerto Plata. 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.