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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,379 per month in Riffa vs $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,056 per month in Riffa vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,733 per month in Riffa vs $3,732 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Riffa is about 4% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Riffa and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Riffa by 3%, Ubud, Bali by 7%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Riffa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.53 BHD 2.45
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
82.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.83 BHD 17.61
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
43.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.84 BHD 2.19
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
15.19%
Cappuccino
$1.94 BHD 0.73
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
-31.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 BHD 0.23
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
-53.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 BHD 0.10
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
-62.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.83 BHD 2.94
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
161.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.69 BHD 4.02
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
177.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Riffa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 BHD 0.50
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
-24.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.35 BHD 0.51
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
-46.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.40 BHD 0.90
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
101.68%
Eggs
$2.16 BHD 0.81
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
-11.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.73 BHD 3.28
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
-40.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.02 BHD 2.64
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
67.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.12 BHD 3.80
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
-15.24%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 BHD 0.89
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
-35.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.91 BHD 0.72
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
18.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 BHD 0.66
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
-34.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.23 BHD 0.46
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
-47.21%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 BHD 0.33
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
-54.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 BHD 0.39
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
-52.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 BHD 0.57
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
42.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 BHD 0.20
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
-25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.52 BHD 2.45
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
108.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.18 BHD 4.95
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
-43.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.33 BHD 1.25
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
21.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 BHD 1.19
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
9.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Riffa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.78 BHD 0.29
$0.29 Rp 5,029
168.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.06 BHD 12.06
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
292.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.77 BHD 1.79
$0.45 Rp 7,863
960.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.87 BHD 1.45
$0.42 Rp 7,305
821.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.01 BHD 9.78
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
322.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.38 BHD 0.14
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
-54.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K BHD 10.0K
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
1.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K BHD 7,722
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
-36.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Riffa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 BHD 45.26
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
53.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.25 BHD 9.87
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
564.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.19 BHD 14.73
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
60.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Riffa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$80.7 BHD 30.36
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-16.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.07 BHD 3.03
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
99.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Riffa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$395 BHD 149
$303 Rp 5.2M
30.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,638 BHD 2,496
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
1.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Riffa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.23 BHD 15.13
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
-25.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.5 BHD 23.89
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
67.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.1 BHD 24.87
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
-23.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.76 BHD 14.95
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
-49.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Riffa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,173 BHD 441
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
15.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$535 BHD 201
$674 Rp 11.7M
-20.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,125 BHD 799
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
-37.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$937 BHD 352
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
-55.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Riffa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,410 BHD 530
$173 Rp 3.0M
714.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
13.28
-62.35%

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

Last update for Riffa: April 28, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,173 in Riffa versus $1,012 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 714% higher in Riffa, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Riffa versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Riffa vs $298 in Ubud, Bali – so Riffa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Riffa vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Riffa?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,068 per month in Riffa and $2,158 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Riffa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Riffa vs Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,379 in Riffa and $1,438 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 292% less in Riffa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Riffa or Ubud, Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Riffa, where all-in costs run around $1,379, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In Riffa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Riffa or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Riffa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Riffa or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Riffa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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