Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Plata and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Puerto Plata: $808 a month against $1,353 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $6,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Puerto Plata
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
$808
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,353
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Puerto Plata and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Puerto Plata and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $808 per month in Puerto Plata vs $1,353 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Puerto Plata $808
  • Ubud, Bali $1,353

A couple spends around $1,325 per month in Puerto Plata vs $2,297 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Puerto Plata $1,325
  • Ubud, Bali $2,297

A family of three spends $1,841 per month in Puerto Plata vs $3,241 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Puerto Plata $1,841
  • Ubud, Bali $3,241

Puerto Plata is about 40% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Puerto Plata sits 40% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Puerto Plata
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.54 DOP 340
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
71.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.63 DOP 1,999
$34.88 Rp 627.8K
-6.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.35 DOP 450
$5.70 Rp 102.5K
28.95%
Cappuccino
$1.45 DOP 89.0
$2.62 Rp 47.1K
-44.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 DOP 42.34
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
-59.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 DOP 19.58
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
-60.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.92 DOP 117
$2.65 Rp 47.7K
-27.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 DOP 145
$4.37 Rp 78.6K
-45.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Puerto Plata
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 DOP 73.7
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
-23.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.58 DOP 97.1
$2.19 Rp 39.5K
-27.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 DOP 61.8
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
-14.41%
Eggs
$1.31 DOP 80.4
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
-39.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.81 DOP 233
$17.65 Rp 317.7K
-78.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.37 DOP 329
$3.78 Rp 68.0K
42.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.44 DOP 333
$11.95 Rp 215.1K
-54.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 DOP 145
$3.60 Rp 64.8K
-34.17%
Banana (1kg)
$0.82 DOP 50.5
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
-48.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.67 DOP 103
$2.31 Rp 41.6K
-27.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.88 DOP 53.7
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
-53.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.03 DOP 63.4
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
-42.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 DOP 72.7
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
-48.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.84 DOP 51.2
$1.00 Rp 18.0K
-16.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 DOP 57.0
$0.53 Rp 9,509
75.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.47 DOP 152
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
7.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.20 DOP 564
$22.07 Rp 397.3K
-58.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 DOP 124
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
-13.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 DOP 180
$2.98 Rp 53.6K
-1.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Puerto Plata
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 DOP 57.8
$0.23 Rp 4,112
308.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.90 Rp 160.2K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 DOP 200
$0.47 Rp 8,466
593.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.26 DOP 139
$0.43 Rp 7,737
425.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.73 DOP 351
$5.47 Rp 98.4K
4.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 DOP 77.5
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
51.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K DOP 1.8M
$23.9K Rp 429.8M
23.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K DOP 2.1M
$32.8K Rp 590.1M
4.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puerto Plata
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.41 DOP 2,537
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
-48.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.67 DOP 1,389
$6.56 Rp 118.1K
245.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.58 DOP 2,179
$18.60 Rp 334.8K
91.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Puerto Plata
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$54.1 Rp 974.1K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.28 Rp 329.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.81 DOP 295
$4.25 Rp 76.5K
13.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Puerto Plata
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$250 DOP 15.3K
$493 Rp 8.9M
-49.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,310 DOP 447.8K
$5,597 Rp 100.7M
30.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Puerto Plata
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.91 DOP 1,158
$45.58 Rp 820.4K
-58.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$12.87 DOP 788
$34.96 Rp 629.4K
-63.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 DOP 5,274
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
10.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 DOP 7,375
$78.5 Rp 1.4M
53.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Puerto Plata
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$437 DOP 26.8K
$1,131 Rp 20.4M
-61.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$297 DOP 18.2K
$673 Rp 12.1M
-55.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$829 DOP 50.8K
$3,613 Rp 65.0M
-77.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$670 DOP 41.1K
$1,702 Rp 30.6M
-60.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,717 Rp 48.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Puerto Plata
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$331 DOP 20.2K
$166 Rp 3.0M
98.68%
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: October 20, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Puerto Plata
$297
Ubud, Bali
$673 126% $376
Groceries & Markets
Puerto Plata
$174
Ubud, Bali
$287 65% $113
Clothing & Footwear
Puerto Plata
$107
Ubud, Bali
$107 0.6% $0.7
Eating Out
Puerto Plata
$102
Ubud, Bali
$106 4.1% $4.2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puerto Plata
$100
Ubud, Bali
$105 5.5% $5.5
Getting Around
Puerto Plata
$18 *
Ubud, Bali
$12 32.2% $5.9
Sport & Entertainment
Puerto Plata
$9.6 *
Ubud, Bali
$63 550% $53

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $437 in Puerto Plata versus $1,131 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 99% higher in Puerto Plata, 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 $33.00 in Puerto Plata versus $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $174 vs $287 – making Puerto Plata the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇩🇴 Puerto Plata
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
13:01 1:01 PM
01:01 1:01 AM
12 h ahead of Puerto Plata
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
130,000
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to DOP – Dominican Peso Converter

Dominican Peso exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 61.26 DOP (100 DOP = 1.63 USD). 1 EUR = 68.87 DOP (100 DOP = 1.45 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Puerto Plata Ubud, Bali 18,610 km ≈ 24 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Puerto Plata
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Puerto Plata?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 67%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,213 per month in Puerto Plata and $2,030 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 Puerto Plata, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Puerto Plata or in Ubud, Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Puerto Plata and $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Puerto Plata and in Ubud, Bali?
Groceries cost about 65% 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.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Puerto Plata or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Puerto Plata, where all-in costs run around $808, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,353. In Puerto Plata it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Puerto Plata or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Puerto Plata 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 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.

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