🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $849 in Rivas versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,592 in Rivas versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,335 in Rivas versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Rivas costs roughly 38% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Rivas is 38% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rivas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.92NIO 144
$3.44Rp 61.0K
13.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.56NIO 1,010
$36.31Rp 644.2K
-24.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.48NIO 274
$5.71Rp 101.2K
31.00%
Cappuccino
$1.27NIO 46.63
$2.67Rp 47.4K
-52.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88NIO 32.31
$1.75Rp 31.0K
-49.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68NIO 24.74
$0.87Rp 15.5K
-21.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.42NIO 51.9
$2.95Rp 52.4K
-51.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97NIO 72.0
$4.52Rp 80.2K
-56.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rivas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28NIO 47.02
$1.62Rp 28.7K
-20.99%
White Bread(500g)
$2.37NIO 86.8
$2.33Rp 41.3K
1.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.80NIO 65.9
$1.11Rp 19.6K
62.16%
Eggs
$2.33NIO 85.2
$2.20Rp 39.0K
5.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.36NIO 416
$17.69Rp 313.9K
-35.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.45NIO 236
$4.10Rp 72.7K
57.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.26NIO 266
$12.18Rp 216.0K
-40.39%
Apples(1kg)
$3.64NIO 133
$3.71Rp 65.8K
-1.89%
Banana(1kg)
$0.62NIO 22.70
$1.59Rp 28.2K
-61.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77NIO 64.9
$2.28Rp 40.5K
-22.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.29NIO 84.0
$1.95Rp 34.7K
17.44%
Potato(1kg)
$3.98NIO 146
$1.91Rp 33.8K
108.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19NIO 80.2
$2.33Rp 41.4K
-6.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99NIO 36.43
$1.01Rp 17.9K
-1.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07NIO 39.36
$0.55Rp 9,791
94.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.61NIO 95.6
$2.23Rp 39.6K
17.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.79NIO 542
$23.07Rp 409.3K
-35.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42NIO 52.0
$2.42Rp 42.9K
-41.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33NIO 85.3
$3.00Rp 53.2K
-22.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Rivas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.27Rp 4,823
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.98Rp 159.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.68NIO 61.4
$0.48Rp 8,582
250.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60NIO 58.7
$0.43Rp 7,693
272.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.90NIO 253
$5.64Rp 100.1K
22.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37NIO 50.1
$0.80Rp 14.3K
71.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3KNIO 852.9K
$24.9KRp 442.5M
-6.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4KNIO 966.8K
$31.7KRp 562.6M
-16.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rivas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$119NIO 4,341
$81.5Rp 1.4M
45.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.31NIO 634
$6.49Rp 115.2K
166.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.89NIO 1,351
$18.77Rp 333.0K
96.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rivas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.34NIO 745
$56.9Rp 1.0M
-64.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.87NIO 252
$18.73Rp 332.3K
-63.32%
Cinema Ticket
$8.67NIO 317
$4.54Rp 80.5K
90.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rivas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$235NIO 8,614
$481Rp 8.5M
-51.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,005NIO 219.9K
$5,711Rp 101.3M
5.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rivas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.8NIO 2,557
$45.52Rp 807.5K
53.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$73.7NIO 2,699
$35.88Rp 636.6K
105.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$133NIO 4,853
$80.4Rp 1.4M
64.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107NIO 3,935
$78.7Rp 1.4M
36.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rivas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$149NIO 5,447
$1,115Rp 19.8M
-86.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$127NIO 4,659
$698Rp 12.4M
-81.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$756NIO 27.7K
$3,637Rp 64.5M
-79.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$809NIO 29.6K
$1,737Rp 30.8M
-53.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,784Rp 49.4M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,290Rp 40.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rivas
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$493NIO 18.1K
$168Rp 3.0M
193.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.25
13.78
-25.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rivas: September 15, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $149 in Rivas and $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rivas pays 194% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $28.00 in Rivas vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $256 vs $295 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 – living expenses run 61% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 194% higher in Rivas, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Rivas compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $149 in Rivas versus $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Rivas or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% 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 $849 per month in Rivas versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali – a 61% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
At $849 in Rivas versus $1,368 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 – similar infrastructure at $849 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 – expenses run 61% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.