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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $456 per month in Rishikesh vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $710 per month in Rishikesh vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $964 per month in Rishikesh vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Rishikesh is about 68% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Rishikesh sits 66% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rishikesh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.41 ₹329
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
-1.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.63 ₹929
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
-70.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.93 ₹283
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
-39.46%
Cappuccino
$2.07 ₹200
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
-24.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ₹42.25
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
-68.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 ₹16.13
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
-77.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.07 ₹199
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
-30.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 ₹226
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
-39.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rishikesh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.69 ₹66.1
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
-60.34%
White Bread (500g)
$0.30 ₹29.34
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
-87.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.86 ₹83.0
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
-26.50%
Eggs
$1.02 ₹98.8
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
-58.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.98 ₹577
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
-58.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.46 ₹334
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
-20.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.11 ₹203
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
-43.28%
Banana (1kg)
$0.89 ₹86.0
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
-45.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 ₹102
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
-61.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.64 ₹61.3
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
-71.43%
Potato (1kg)
$0.39 ₹38.00
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
-79.69%
Onion (1kg)
$0.37 ₹35.23
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
-83.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 ₹71.4
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
-30.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 ₹35.30
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
-48.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 ₹218
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
-31.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.07 ₹874
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
-60.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 ₹165
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
-38.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ₹266
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
1.10%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$7.16 ₹690
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Rishikesh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 ₹29.17
$0.27 Rp 4,786
11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.50 ₹2,267
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
189.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₹110
$0.48 Rp 8,675
137.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.42 Rp 7,545
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.40 ₹231
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
-61.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₹111
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
41.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8K ₹1.8M
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
-29.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6K ₹2.8M
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
-11.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rishikesh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.8 ₹5,088
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-32.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.75 ₹362
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
-7.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.44 ₹814
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
-65.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rishikesh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.98 ₹1,252
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-86.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.15 ₹690
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
12.78%
Cinema Ticket
$4.75 ₹458
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
19.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rishikesh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$90.2 ₹8,701
$305 Rp 5.5M
-70.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,666 ₹160.7K
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
-74.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rishikesh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.82 ₹2,201
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
-57.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.51 ₹2,267
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
-37.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$56.4 ₹5,434
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
-35.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.16 ₹3,391
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
-53.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rishikesh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$58.3 ₹5,618
$992 Rp 17.8M
-94.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$76.7 ₹7,394
$673 Rp 12.1M
-88.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$278 ₹26.8K
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
-91.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$178 ₹17.2K
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
-91.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,161 ₹112.0K
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
-58.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$911 ₹87.8K
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
-59.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rishikesh
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$210 ₹20.3K
$167 Rp 3.0M
25.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.25
13.28
-45.41%

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

Last update for Rishikesh: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $58.3 in Rishikesh 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 26% higher in Rishikesh, 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 $10.00 in Rishikesh versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $117 vs $297 – making Rishikesh 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
Rishikesh vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rishikesh or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali costs about 208% more than Rishikesh, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Rishikesh and in Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $685 per month in Rishikesh 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, Rishikesh or Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Rishikesh, 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 Rishikesh compared to Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $456 in Rishikesh 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 Rishikesh compared to Ubud, Bali?
Public transport costs about 190% less in Rishikesh. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Rishikesh or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Rishikesh, where all-in costs run around $456, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Rishikesh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rishikesh or Ubud, Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rishikesh costs $456 versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Rishikesh 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 Rishikesh or to Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Rishikesh. 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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