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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,734 in Riyadh versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,582 in Riyadh versus $2,327 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,429 in Riyadh versus $3,275 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Riyadh is roughly 26% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Riyadh 26% above, Ubud, Bali 0% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.79 SAR 29.24

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

133.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.8 SAR 243

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

80.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.87 SAR 33.31

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

57.55%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 SAR 7.46

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 SAR 11.14

Cappuccino

$4.23 SAR 15.87

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

50.00%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 SAR 3.19

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

-51.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 SAR 1.22

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

-60.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 SAR 6.32

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

4.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 SAR 4.70

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

-44.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.45 SAR 9.21

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

109.40%

Eggs

$3.19 SAR 11.98

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

47.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 SAR 36.38

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

-45.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.95 SAR 37.36

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

145.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.17 SAR 57.0

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

24.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 SAR 9.84

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

-27.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 SAR 7.31

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

18.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 SAR 8.87

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

2.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.73 SAR 6.51

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

-11.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 SAR 4.50

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

-34.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 SAR 5.37

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

-39.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 SAR 6.43

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

62.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.21

$0.54 Rp 9,560

9.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$7.75 SAR 29.11

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 SAR 6.93

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 SAR 9.29

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.51 SAR 28.19

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

226.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.08

$0.25 Rp 4,365

336.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.56 SAR 141

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

298.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 SAR 12.33

$0.49 Rp 8,631

569.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 SAR 7.09

$0.47 Rp 8,349

302.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.13 SAR 49.32

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

134.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 SAR 2.23

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

-27.16%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.9K SAR 134.7K

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

43.45%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.4K SAR 84.1K

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

-27.92%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$97.0 SAR 364

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

17.25%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$32.37 SAR 122

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

398.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.6 SAR 258

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

265.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.7 SAR 337

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

62.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$54.9 SAR 206

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

201.70%

Cinema Ticket

$13.29 SAR 49.89

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

209.07%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$533 SAR 2,000

$494 Rp 8.7M

7.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K SAR 42.6K

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

91.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 SAR 221

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

27.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.1 SAR 211

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

53.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 SAR 398

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

31.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 SAR 392

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

32.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,174 SAR 4,408

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

5.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$830 SAR 3,117

$693 Rp 12.2M

19.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,205 SAR 8,280

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

-39.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 SAR 4,595

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

-28.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,935 SAR 11.0K

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

6.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,962 SAR 7,367

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

-14.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,052 SAR 7,705

$167 Rp 2.9M

1127.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.54

13.78

-59.80%

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

Last update for Riyadh: September 5, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,174 in Riyadh and $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Riyadh pays 1128% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $65.0 in Riyadh vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $240 vs $294, with Riyadh cheaper for home cooking.

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

Riyadh vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Riyadh and Ubud, Bali differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($1,734 vs $1,378 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 1128% higher in Riyadh, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,174 in Riyadh versus $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,734 per month in Riyadh versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 299% less than in Riyadh. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,734 in Riyadh, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Riyadh. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Riyadh 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.

Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Riyadh. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.