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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,098 per month in Quetzaltenango vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,435 per month in Quetzaltenango vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,772 per month in Quetzaltenango vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Quetzaltenango is about 23% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Quetzaltenango sits 18% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quetzaltenango
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.11 Q 31.29
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
15.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.08 Q 260
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
4.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.85 Q 44.56
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
18.18%
Cappuccino
$2.55 Q 19.43
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
-5.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 Q 3.66
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
-64.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 Q 3.71
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
-30.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.39 Q 10.56
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
-52.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 Q 14.85
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
-50.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quetzaltenango
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 Q 13.86
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
0.55%
White Bread (500g)
$2.62 Q 19.98
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
3.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.03 Q 15.45
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
75.00%
Eggs
$2.22 Q 16.95
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
-9.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.98 Q 60.8
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
-45.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.27 Q 47.77
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
45.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.23 Q 70.3
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
-23.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.41 Q 18.39
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
-37.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 Q 11.66
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
-1.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.12 Q 23.77
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
10.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.02 Q 7.80
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
-56.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.75 Q 13.31
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
-8.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 Q 14.43
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
-14.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 Q 5.74
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
-25.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 Q 9.30
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
56.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.31 Q 25.25
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
-0.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.94 Q 60.5
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-66.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 Q 12.66
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
-40.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 Q 18.61
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
-14.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Quetzaltenango
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Q 2.07
$0.27 Rp 4,800
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.67 Q 27.94
$0.46 Rp 8,150
697.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 Q 4.60
$0.45 Rp 8,037
33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.61 Q 50.3
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
8.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 Q 7.24
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
20.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.6K Q 119.0K
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
-40.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7K Q 173.2K
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
-29.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quetzaltenango
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.4 Q 605
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
-0.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.27 Q 101
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
226.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.94 Q 365
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
103.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quetzaltenango
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.69 Q 249
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-66.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.39 Q 56.3
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
78.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quetzaltenango
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$244 Q 1,859
$304 Rp 5.4M
-19.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,720 Q 43.6K
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
-13.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quetzaltenango
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.21 Q 375
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
-11.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.1 Q 412
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
41.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 Q 850
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
25.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 Q 946
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
59.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quetzaltenango
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$211 Q 1,606
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
-79.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$401 Q 3,056
$675 Rp 12.1M
-40.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$376 Q 2,868
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-89.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$260 Q 1,981
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
-87.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quetzaltenango
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$165 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.69
13.28
-42.09%

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

Last update for Quetzaltenango: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $211 in Quetzaltenango versus $1,006 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 $34.00 in Quetzaltenango versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $239 in Quetzaltenango vs $302 in Ubud, Bali – so Quetzaltenango 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
Quetzaltenango vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Quetzaltenango or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali costs about 29% more than Quetzaltenango, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Quetzaltenango vs Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,647 per month in Quetzaltenango and $2,129 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Quetzaltenango or Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Quetzaltenango, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Quetzaltenango compared to Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,098 in Quetzaltenango and $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Quetzaltenango and Ubud, Bali?
Kindergarten costs $244 per month in Quetzaltenango and $304 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Quetzaltenango or Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Quetzaltenango, where all-in costs run around $1,098, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Quetzaltenango it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Quetzaltenango or Ubud, Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Quetzaltenango costs $1,098 versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Quetzaltenango compared to 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.
Should I move to Quetzaltenango or Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Quetzaltenango. 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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