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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,869 per month in Reykjavik vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,475 per month in Reykjavik vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,081 per month in Reykjavik vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Reykjavik costs about 175% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Reykjavik and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Reykjavik by 190%, Ubud, Bali by 5%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Reykjavik
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.43 ISK 3,418
$3.45 Rp 61.8K
695.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$142 ISK 17.7K
$32.34 Rp 578.5K
339.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$22.54 ISK 2,809
$4.84 Rp 86.7K
365.70%
Cappuccino
$6.05 ISK 754
$2.75 Rp 49.1K
120.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 ISK 402
$1.38 Rp 24.8K
133.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 ISK 314
$0.75 Rp 13.4K
236.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.93 ISK 1,611
$2.99 Rp 53.5K
332.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.39 ISK 1,420
$3.85 Rp 68.9K
195.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ISK 235
$1.74 Rp 31.1K
8.62%
White Bread (500g)
$4.19 ISK 522
$2.46 Rp 44.0K
70.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.54 ISK 441
$1.17 Rp 20.9K
202.56%
Eggs
$6.31 ISK 786
$2.43 Rp 43.5K
159.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.00 ISK 2,243
$14.50 Rp 259.5K
24.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.46 ISK 3,048
$4.35 Rp 77.8K
462.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$41.94 ISK 5,226
$11.98 Rp 214.3K
250.08%
Apples (1kg)
$3.33 ISK 415
$3.72 Rp 66.5K
-10.48%
Banana (1kg)
$2.40 ISK 300
$1.63 Rp 29.1K
47.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.03 ISK 377
$2.74 Rp 49.1K
10.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.13 ISK 639
$2.24 Rp 40.1K
129.02%
Potato (1kg)
$3.66 ISK 455
$1.92 Rp 34.3K
90.63%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 ISK 302
$2.28 Rp 40.7K
6.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.17 ISK 394
$1.06 Rp 19.0K
199.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 ISK 241
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
168.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.76 ISK 1,714
$3.29 Rp 58.8K
318.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.67 ISK 2,825
$23.19 Rp 414.9K
-2.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.75 ISK 467
$2.78 Rp 49.7K
34.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 ISK 406
$2.73 Rp 48.9K
19.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Reykjavik
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.30 ISK 661
$0.27 Rp 4,765
1862.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.2 ISK 11.0K
$8.11 Rp 145.0K
987.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.51 ISK 811
$0.48 Rp 8,636
1256.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.57 ISK 321
$0.42 Rp 7,511
511.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$86.4 ISK 10.8K
$6.22 Rp 111.3K
1289.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.52 ISK 314
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
211.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.7K ISK 5.9M
$26.6K Rp 476.1M
79.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$51.8K ISK 6.5M
$32.2K Rp 575.9M
61.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.1 ISK 10.9K
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
11.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.13 ISK 3,380
$4.07 Rp 72.8K
566.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.4 ISK 10.6K
$24.33 Rp 435.2K
251.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$84.0 ISK 10.5K
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-14.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.12 ISK 4,750
$6.34 Rp 113.3K
501.26%
Cinema Ticket
$17.35 ISK 2,162
$3.99 Rp 71.3K
334.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Reykjavik
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$319 ISK 39.8K
$305 Rp 5.5M
4.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.7K ISK 3.8M
$6,642 Rp 118.8M
361.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$138 ISK 17.1K
$54.1 Rp 968.6K
154.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.8 ISK 7,821
$37.81 Rp 676.3K
66.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$182 ISK 22.7K
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
109.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$269 ISK 33.5K
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
252.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,254 ISK 280.8K
$992 Rp 17.7M
127.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,008 ISK 250.2K
$673 Rp 12.0M
198.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,231 ISK 402.6K
$3,375 Rp 60.4M
-4.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,756 ISK 343.4K
$2,050 Rp 36.7M
34.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,955 ISK 991.2K
$2,805 Rp 50.2M
183.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,156 ISK 767.1K
$2,227 Rp 39.8M
176.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Reykjavik
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,438 ISK 553.0K
$167 Rp 3.0M
2558.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.63
13.28
-27.48%

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

Last update for Reykjavik: July 11, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,254 in Reykjavik versus $992 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 2558% higher in Reykjavik, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $142 in Reykjavik versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $593 vs $297 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Reykjavik vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Reykjavik or Ubud, Bali?
Reykjavik costs about 175% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Reykjavik and in Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,803 per month in Reykjavik and $2,112 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Reykjavik or Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, 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 Reykjavik compared to Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,869 in Reykjavik and $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Reykjavik compared to Ubud, Bali?
Public transport costs about 988% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Reykjavik or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,408, than in Reykjavik at $3,869. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Reykjavik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Reykjavik or Ubud, Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,408 versus $3,869 in Reykjavik. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik or to Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Reykjavik makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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