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: $4,254 in Redwood City, CA versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,282 in Redwood City, CA versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,309 in Redwood City, CA versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Redwood City, CA is roughly 205% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Redwood City, CA 210% above, Ubud, Bali 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Redwood City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.87 $24.87
$3.37 Rp 59.9K
637.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$109 $109
$38.59 Rp 685.5K
182.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.09 $13.09
$5.52 Rp 98.1K
137.14%
Cappuccino
$5.44 $5.44
$2.64 Rp 47.0K
106.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 $3.20
$1.67 Rp 29.7K
91.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$0.77 Rp 13.7K
205.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.84 $7.84
$2.63 Rp 46.8K
198.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.17 $9.17
$4.28 Rp 76.1K
114.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Redwood City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.55 Rp 27.5K
-0.65%
White Bread (500g)
$5.21 $5.21
$2.22 Rp 39.5K
134.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.30 $5.30
$1.13 Rp 20.0K
369.03%
Eggs
$7.64 $7.64
$2.09 Rp 37.1K
265.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.07 $15.07
$17.39 Rp 309.0K
-13.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.84 $10.84
$3.87 Rp 68.7K
180.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.65 $19.65
$12.55 Rp 222.9K
56.57%
Apples (1kg)
$6.41 $6.41
$3.62 Rp 64.2K
77.07%
Banana (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$1.56 Rp 27.7K
83.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.65 $4.65
$2.35 Rp 41.8K
97.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.46 $6.46
$2.06 Rp 36.5K
213.59%
Potato (1kg)
$3.23 $3.23
$1.90 Rp 33.7K
70.00%
Onion (1kg)
$3.90 $3.90
$2.34 Rp 41.5K
66.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.91 $2.91
$1.03 Rp 18.3K
182.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$0.55 Rp 9,854
405.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.22 $12.22
$2.25 Rp 40.0K
443.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.36 $20.36
$23.81 Rp 422.9K
-14.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62 $2.62
$2.31 Rp 41.1K
13.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 $3.59
$2.80 Rp 49.8K
28.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Redwood City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.69 $4.69
$0.27 Rp 4,839
1637.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.66 Rp 153.9K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.12 $4.12
$0.48 Rp 8,554
758.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.23 $1.23
$0.45 Rp 7,924
173.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$38.89 $38.89
$5.72 Rp 101.6K
579.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 $1.43
$0.76 Rp 13.5K
88.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5K $37.5K
$24.5K Rp 434.9M
53.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$32.1K Rp 570.6M
-16.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Redwood City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$248 $248
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
196.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.2 $53.2
$6.46 Rp 114.7K
723.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.7 $70.7
$18.99 Rp 337.4K
272.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Redwood City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$244 $244
$56.0 Rp 994.4K
335.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.72 $29.72
$18.62 Rp 330.7K
59.61%
Cinema Ticket
$17.98 $17.98
$4.28 Rp 76.1K
320.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Redwood City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,962 $2,962
$487 Rp 8.6M
508.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$42.4K $42.4K
$5,856 Rp 104.0M
623.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Redwood City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.21 $44.21
$45.56 Rp 809.3K
-2.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.47 $25.47
$36.38 Rp 646.3K
-29.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.8 $99.8
$82.0 Rp 1.5M
21.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
42.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Redwood City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,206 $4,206
$1,117 Rp 19.8M
276.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,509 $2,509
$701 Rp 12.5M
257.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,847 $5,847
$3,537 Rp 62.8M
65.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,479 $4,479
$1,762 Rp 31.3M
154.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,826 Rp 50.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,292 Rp 40.7M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Redwood City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,971 $7,971
$170 Rp 3.0M
4594.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.46
13.78
-53.12%

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

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,206 in Redwood City, CA and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Redwood City, CA pays 4595% 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: $109 in Redwood City, CA vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $501 vs $293 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Redwood City, CA and Ubud, Bali differ by about 205% in total monthly costs ($4,254 vs $1,396 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?
Average pay runs 4595% higher in Redwood City, CA, 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $4,206 in Redwood City, CA versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Redwood City, CA and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $2,962 in Redwood City, CA versus $487 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $109 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 $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,254 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 205% 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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