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