๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $680 in Rivas versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,087 in Rivas versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,495 in Rivas versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.
๐Living in Rivas costs roughly 53% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Rivas is 49% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Rivas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.12NIOย 152
$3.57Rpย 61.6K
15.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.15NIOย 1,038
$32.58Rpย 562.6K
-13.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.02NIOย 259
$5.07Rpย 87.5K
38.46%
Cappuccino
$1.22NIOย 44.85
$2.83Rpย 48.8K
-56.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79NIOย 29.20
$1.34Rpย 23.1K
-41.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74NIOย 27.11
$0.69Rpย 12.0K
7.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.33NIOย 49.14
$2.99Rpย 51.6K
-55.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99NIOย 73.3
$3.85Rpย 66.4K
-48.31%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Rivas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21NIOย 44.72
$1.74Rpย 30.1K
-30.46%
White Bread(500g)
$2.38NIOย 87.6
$2.54Rpย 43.8K
-6.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85NIOย 68.3
$1.19Rpย 20.6K
55.46%
Eggs
$2.27NIOย 83.5
$2.43Rpย 41.9K
-6.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.42NIOย 421
$14.66Rpย 253.2K
-22.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.64NIOย 245
$4.18Rpย 72.1K
58.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.22NIOย 303
$11.94Rpย 206.1K
-31.16%
Apples(1kg)
$3.87NIOย 143
$3.69Rpย 63.6K
4.88%
Banana(1kg)
$0.85NIOย 31.15
$1.61Rpย 27.7K
-47.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.84NIOย 67.8
$2.69Rpย 46.4K
-31.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.28NIOย 84.1
$2.33Rpย 40.2K
-2.15%
Potato(1kg)
$4.05NIOย 149
$1.91Rpย 32.9K
112.04%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18NIOย 80.4
$2.19Rpย 37.7K
-0.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02NIOย 37.67
$1.06Rpย 18.3K
-3.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01NIOย 37.27
$0.72Rpย 12.5K
40.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.68NIOย 98.7
$3.13Rpย 54.1K
-14.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.50NIOย 534
$23.49Rpย 405.6K
-38.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42NIOย 52.2
$2.74Rpย 47.3K
-48.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28NIOย 84.2
$2.88Rpย 49.7K
-20.83%
๐ Getting Around
Rivas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.29Rpย 5,010
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.17Rpย 141.0K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.53NIOย 56.5
$0.45Rpย 7,834
240.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.42Rpย 7,278
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.71NIOย 247
$6.16Rpย 106.3K
8.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36NIOย 50.1
$0.84Rpย 14.5K
61.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2KNIOย 855.2K
$26.2KRpย 453.1M
-11.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KNIOย 978.3K
$32.5KRpย 560.8M
-18.28%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rivas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$97.0NIOย 3,575
$78.4Rpย 1.4M
23.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.99NIOย 626
$3.95Rpย 68.2K
330.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.86NIOย 1,395
$24.40Rpย 421.4K
55.16%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Rivas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$96.5Rpย 1.7M
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.35Rpย 109.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.09NIOย 298
$4.04Rpย 69.7K
100.25%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Rivas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$123NIOย 4,543
$303Rpย 5.2M
-59.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,038NIOย 222.6K
$6,523Rpย 112.6M
-7.43%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Rivas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.4NIOย 2,889
$53.8Rpย 929.5K
45.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$73.6NIOย 2,712
$37.98Rpย 655.8K
93.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$132NIOย 4,879
$86.8Rpย 1.5M
52.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108NIOย 3,997
$78.9Rpย 1.4M
37.52%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Rivas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,012Rpย 17.5M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$674Rpย 11.6M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,390Rpย 58.5M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,098Rpย 36.2M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,985Rpย 51.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,339Rpย 40.4M
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Rivas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494NIOย 18.2K
$173Rpย 3.0M
185.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.25
13.28
-22.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rivas: April 28, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ฐRivas pays 185% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $28.00 in Rivas vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $261 vs $298 per month, with Rivas 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
Rivas vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rivas or Ubud, Bali?
Rivas wins on cost โ living expenses run 112% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rivas the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Rivas or Ubud, Bali?
Rivas pays 185% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
Are groceries more expensive in Rivas or Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Rivas compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $680 per month in Rivas versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali โ a 112% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Rivas or Ubud, Bali?
At $680 in Rivas versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Rivas but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Rivas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rivas or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Rivas delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $680 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Rivas hard to pass up.
How safe is Rivas compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Rivas 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Rivas gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 112% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.