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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $238 per month in Pyongyang vs $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $389 per month in Pyongyang vs $2,549 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $540 per month in Pyongyang vs $3,694 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Pyongyang is about 83% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Pyongyang sits 82% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.33 $23.33

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

-28.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

Cappuccino

$1.18 $1.18

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

-57.09%

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

$2.32 $2.32

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

75.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

62.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.92 $13.92

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

378.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

-10.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

-40.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

-1.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

-17.50%

Eggs

$2.08 $2.08

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

-14.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$93.8 $93.8

$986 Rp 17.7M

-90.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$93.4 $93.4

$658 Rp 11.8M

-85.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$140 $140

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

-93.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$252 $252

$163 Rp 2.9M

54.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Pyongyang: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $93.8 in Pyongyang versus $986 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 54% higher in Pyongyang, 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 $23.00 in Pyongyang versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $47.00 vs $297 – making Pyongyang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated June 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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

Monthly costs with rent: $238 in Pyongyang, $1,404 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 489% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $358 per month in Pyongyang and $2,106 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pyongyang, 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 $23.00 in Pyongyang and $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $238 in Pyongyang and $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pyongyang, where all-in costs run around $238, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In Pyongyang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $238 in Pyongyang to $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Pyongyang. 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.