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 $1,235 per month in Riffa vs $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,910 per month in Riffa vs $2,327 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,584 per month in Riffa vs $3,275 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Riffa is about 10% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Riffa sits 10% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Riffa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.46 BHD 2.44
$3.33 Rp 58.7K
93.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.00 BHD 14.70
$35.82 Rp 630.7K
8.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.93 BHD 2.24
$5.63 Rp 99.1K
5.33%
Cappuccino
$4.05 BHD 1.53
$2.82 Rp 49.7K
43.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 BHD 0.26
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
-61.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 BHD 0.11
$0.80 Rp 14.0K
-65.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.58 BHD 2.48
$3.04 Rp 53.6K
116.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 BHD 2.98
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
84.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Riffa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 BHD 0.53
$1.61 Rp 28.3K
-11.80%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 BHD 0.26
$2.27 Rp 39.9K
-70.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 BHD 0.72
$1.17 Rp 20.6K
63.25%
Eggs
$2.32 BHD 0.88
$2.17 Rp 38.2K
6.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.12 BHD 3.06
$17.63 Rp 310.5K
-53.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.95 BHD 2.24
$4.05 Rp 71.4K
46.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.50 BHD 3.20
$12.18 Rp 214.5K
-30.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 BHD 0.89
$3.62 Rp 63.7K
-34.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 BHD 0.66
$1.64 Rp 28.8K
6.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 BHD 0.71
$2.31 Rp 40.6K
-19.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.08 BHD 0.41
$1.96 Rp 34.5K
-44.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 BHD 0.39
$1.84 Rp 32.5K
-43.48%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 BHD 0.26
$2.37 Rp 41.7K
-71.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 BHD 0.19
$1.05 Rp 18.5K
-50.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 BHD 0.21
$0.54 Rp 9,560
1.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.39 BHD 2.03
$2.30 Rp 40.6K
134.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.23 BHD 4.99
$23.08 Rp 406.4K
-42.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 BHD 0.71
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
-19.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 BHD 1.02
$3.07 Rp 54.0K
-12.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Riffa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 BHD 0.29
$0.25 Rp 4,365
208.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.51 BHD 13.76
$9.42 Rp 165.9K
287.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.21 BHD 1.96
$0.49 Rp 8,631
963.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.52 BHD 1.33
$0.47 Rp 8,349
648.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.56 BHD 3.98
$5.60 Rp 98.6K
88.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.46 BHD 0.17
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
-43.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K BHD 8,592
$25.0K Rp 440.3M
-8.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K BHD 7,733
$31.1K Rp 547.0M
-33.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Riffa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$134 BHD 50.5
$82.7 Rp 1.5M
61.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.40 BHD 9.19
$6.49 Rp 114.2K
275.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.29 BHD 13.30
$18.79 Rp 330.8K
87.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Riffa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$74.0 BHD 27.90
$55.2 Rp 972.6K
34.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.36 BHD 5.04
$18.21 Rp 320.6K
-26.63%
Cinema Ticket
$10.44 BHD 3.94
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
142.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Riffa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$481 BHD 181
$494 Rp 8.7M
-2.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,669 BHD 2,137
$5,917 Rp 104.2M
-4.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Riffa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.15 BHD 10.99
$46.28 Rp 814.8K
-37.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.59 BHD 8.14
$36.44 Rp 641.6K
-40.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.2 BHD 24.96
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
-17.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.59 BHD 14.92
$78.8 Rp 1.4M
-49.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Riffa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$910 BHD 343
$1,114 Rp 19.6M
-18.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$432 BHD 163
$693 Rp 12.2M
-37.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,545 BHD 582
$3,639 Rp 64.1M
-57.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$872 BHD 329
$1,712 Rp 30.1M
-49.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,761 Rp 48.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,293 Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Riffa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,378 BHD 519
$167 Rp 2.9M
724.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.5
13.78
-60.09%

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

Last update for Riffa: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $910 in Riffa versus $1,114 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 725% 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 $39.00 in Riffa versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $207 in Riffa vs $294 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 12%, 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 $1,853 per month in Riffa and $2,067 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 and in Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,235 in Riffa and $1,378 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 288% less in Riffa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Riffa or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Riffa, where all-in costs run around $1,235, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. 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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