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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $571 in Riobamba versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $897 in Riobamba versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,222 in Riobamba versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Riobamba costs roughly 59% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Riobamba is 57% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Riobamba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 $3.57
$3.45 Rp 62.0K
3.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.74 $14.74
$32.34 Rp 580.1K
-54.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.64 $6.64
$4.84 Rp 86.9K
37.19%
Cappuccino
$1.91 $1.91
$2.75 Rp 49.3K
-30.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.38 Rp 24.8K
-42.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 $0.64
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
-14.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.51 $1.51
$2.99 Rp 53.7K
-49.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$3.85 Rp 69.1K
-34.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Riobamba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.74 Rp 31.1K
-43.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
-31.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
-25.64%
Eggs
$1.68 $1.68
$2.43 Rp 43.6K
-30.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$1.97 $1.97
$14.50 Rp 260.2K
-86.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.24 $3.24
$4.35 Rp 78.0K
-25.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.66 $4.66
$11.98 Rp 214.9K
-61.10%
Apples (1kg)
$1.47 $1.47
$3.72 Rp 66.7K
-60.48%
Banana (1kg)
$0.48 $0.48
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
-70.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.17 $1.17
$2.74 Rp 49.2K
-57.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.98 $0.98
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
-56.25%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.92 Rp 34.4K
-56.25%
Onion (1kg)
$0.87 $0.87
$2.28 Rp 40.8K
-61.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.47 $0.47
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
-55.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 $0.99
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.84 $5.84
$3.29 Rp 58.9K
77.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.63 $5.63
$23.19 Rp 416.1K
-75.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.78 Rp 49.8K
-47.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 $3.32
$2.73 Rp 49.0K
21.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Riobamba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 $0.27
$0.27 Rp 4,778
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.32 $24.32
$8.11 Rp 145.4K
199.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.66 $0.66
$0.48 Rp 8,659
37.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 $0.98
$0.42 Rp 7,532
133.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.61 $13.61
$6.22 Rp 111.6K
118.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.68 $0.68
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
-16.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K $29.9K
$26.6K Rp 477.4M
12.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2K $29.2K
$32.2K Rp 577.4M
-9.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Riobamba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$20.29 $20.29
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-74.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.92 $6.92
$4.07 Rp 73.0K
70.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.08 $31.08
$24.33 Rp 436.4K
27.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Riobamba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.71 $24.71
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-74.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.85 $14.85
$6.34 Rp 113.7K
134.23%
Cinema Ticket
$5.93 $5.93
$3.99 Rp 71.5K
48.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Riobamba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$78.9 $78.9
$305 Rp 5.5M
-74.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,441 $1,441
$6,642 Rp 119.2M
-78.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Riobamba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.7 $50.7
$54.1 Rp 971.2K
-6.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.4 $50.4
$37.81 Rp 678.2K
33.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.0 $99.0
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
14.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.8 $65.8
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
-13.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Riobamba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$116 $116
$992 Rp 17.8M
-88.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$96.7 $96.7
$673 Rp 12.1M
-85.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$223 $223
$3,375 Rp 60.5M
-93.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$186 $186
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
-90.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,182 $1,182
$2,805 Rp 50.3M
-57.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$847 $847
$2,227 Rp 39.9M
-61.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Riobamba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$328 $328
$167 Rp 3.0M
96.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.48
13.28
-13.55%

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

Last update for Riobamba: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $116 in Riobamba and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Riobamba pays 97% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $15.00 in Riobamba vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $136 vs $297 per month, with Riobamba cheaper across the board.

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
Riobamba vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Riobamba and in Ubud, Bali?
Riobamba and Ubud, Bali differ by about 147% in total monthly costs ($571 vs $1,408 including rent). Riobamba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Riobamba or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 97% higher in Riobamba, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Riobamba and in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $116 in Riobamba versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Riobamba and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $78.9 in Riobamba versus $305 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 118% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $571 in Riobamba versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Riobamba but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Riobamba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Riobamba and Ubud, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Riobamba or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Riobamba and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Riobamba or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Riobamba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 147% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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