Cost of Living Comparison Between Redwood City, CA and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Redwood City, CA and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,048 in Redwood City, CA versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,886 in Redwood City, CA versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,725 in Redwood City, CA versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Redwood City, CA is roughly 185% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Redwood City, CA 202% above, Ubud, Bali 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Redwood City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.01 $27.01
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
658.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
206.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.57 $14.57
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
194.34%
Cappuccino
$4.97 $4.97
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
83.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 $2.59
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
93.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
208.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.98 $5.98
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
104.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.08 $7.08
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
78.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Redwood City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
-18.78%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 $2.40
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
-4.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.64 $5.64
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
386.21%
Eggs
$4.84 $4.84
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
96.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.82 $7.82
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
-46.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.91 $14.91
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
245.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.75 $16.75
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
37.97%
Apples (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
67.97%
Banana (1kg)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
42.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.68 $3.68
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
30.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.14 $3.14
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
34.76%
Potato (1kg)
$2.37 $2.37
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
24.08%
Onion (1kg)
$3.49 $3.49
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
58.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
118.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.99 $2.99
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
283.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.87 $8.87
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
167.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.11 $12.11
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-48.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
-39.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95 $3.95
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
38.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Redwood City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$7.20 $7.20
$0.27 Rp 4,800
2566.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.8 $74.8
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
831.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 $3.43
$0.46 Rp 8,150
645.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.87 $1.87
$0.45 Rp 8,037
315.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.09 $40.09
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
557.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 $1.21
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
53.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K $24.3K
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
-6.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
-19.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Redwood City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$193 $193
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
141.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.4 $50.4
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
1141.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.3 $72.3
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
207.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Redwood City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$179 $179
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
81.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.65 $14.65
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
253.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Redwood City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,698 $2,698
$304 Rp 5.4M
787.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.2K $38.2K
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
478.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Redwood City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.9 $59.9
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
7.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.3 $60.3
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
57.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.3 $89.3
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
0.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 $100
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
28.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Redwood City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,174 $4,174
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
314.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,503 $2,503
$675 Rp 12.1M
270.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,455 $5,455
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
58.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,227 $4,227
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
107.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Redwood City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$8,032 $8,032
$165 Rp 3.0M
4760.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
13.28
-50.68%

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

Last update for Redwood City, CA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,174 in Redwood City, CA and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Redwood City, CA pays 4761% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $100 in Redwood City, CA vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $404 vs $302 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

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
Redwood City, CA vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Redwood City, CA and Ubud, Bali?
Redwood City, CA and Ubud, Bali differ by about 185% in total monthly costs ($4,048 vs $1,419 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Redwood City, CA or Ubud, Bali?
Redwood City, CA pays 4761% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Redwood City, CA and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $4,174 in Redwood City, CA versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Redwood City, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $100 in Redwood City, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,048 in Redwood City, CA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Redwood City, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Redwood City, CA and Ubud, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Redwood City, CA or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Redwood City, CA and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Redwood City, CA or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 185% less than in Redwood City, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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