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 $3,883 per month in Reykjavik vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,535 per month in Reykjavik vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,188 per month in Reykjavik vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Reykjavik costs about 174% 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 6%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.17 ISK 3,346

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

663.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 ISK 17.7K

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

338.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.42 ISK 2,761

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

352.93%

Cappuccino

$6.19 ISK 763

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

128.41%

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

$3.28 ISK 405

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

144.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 ISK 311

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

261.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.11 ISK 1,615

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

348.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.43 ISK 1,408

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

188.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ISK 239

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

7.18%

White Bread (500g)

$4.29 ISK 528

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

70.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.72 ISK 458

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

220.69%

Eggs

$6.53 ISK 804

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

165.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.88 ISK 2,202

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

21.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.10 ISK 2,968

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

457.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.88 ISK 5,281

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

253.21%

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 ISK 412

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

-12.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 ISK 309

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

60.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.13 ISK 385

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

10.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.89 ISK 602

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

109.87%

Potato (1kg)

$3.71 ISK 457

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

94.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.32 ISK 285

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

5.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.07 ISK 378

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

203.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 ISK 246

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

155.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.85 ISK 1,705

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

317.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.47 ISK 2,891

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

-1.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.62 ISK 446

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

29.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 ISK 416

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

18.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.10 ISK 628

$0.27 Rp 4,819

1788.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.4 ISK 10.5K

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

963.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.28 ISK 773

$0.46 Rp 8,181

1265.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.57 ISK 317

$0.45 Rp 8,068

471.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.8 ISK 10.6K

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

1306.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.52 ISK 310

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

218.99%

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

$47.2K ISK 5.8M

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

80.40%

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

$51.8K ISK 6.4M

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

61.33%

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

$86.9 ISK 10.7K

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

8.64%

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

$26.94 ISK 3,317

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

563.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.9 ISK 10.6K

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

265.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.4 ISK 10.3K

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-15.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.54 ISK 4,623

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

466.21%

Cinema Ticket

$17.53 ISK 2,159

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

322.41%

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

$321 ISK 39.5K

$304 Rp 5.4M

5.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.2K ISK 3.7M

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

356.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$140 ISK 17.2K

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

151.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.6 ISK 7,456

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

58.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$181 ISK 22.3K

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

104.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$263 ISK 32.4K

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

238.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,175 ISK 267.8K

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

116.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,023 ISK 249.2K

$675 Rp 12.1M

199.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,139 ISK 386.6K

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

-8.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,738 ISK 337.1K

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

34.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,022 ISK 987.9K

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

182.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,223 ISK 766.3K

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

174.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,441 ISK 546.9K

$165 Rp 3.0M

2587.59%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,175 in Reykjavik 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.

Salaries run about 2588% 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 $144 in Reykjavik versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $599 vs $302 – 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

Reykjavik costs about 174% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,824 per month in Reykjavik and $2,129 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,883 in Reykjavik and $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 963% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,419, than in Reykjavik at $3,883. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Reykjavik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,419 versus $3,883 in Reykjavik. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 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.