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: $1,739 in Riyadh versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,521 in Riyadh versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,304 in Riyadh versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Riyadh is roughly 23% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Riyadh 30% above, Ubud, Bali 6% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.21 SAR 30.82

$3.56 Rp 64.3K

130.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.0 SAR 199

$32.73 Rp 590.3K

61.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.11 SAR 30.45

$4.95 Rp 89.2K

63.84%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 SAR 6.41

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 SAR 8.37

Cappuccino

$4.09 SAR 15.34

$2.71 Rp 48.9K

50.92%

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

$0.71 SAR 2.66

$1.34 Rp 24.2K

-47.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 SAR 1.07

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

-58.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.7K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 71.4K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 SAR 6.30

$1.81 Rp 32.6K

-7.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 SAR 4.79

$2.52 Rp 45.4K

-49.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.35 SAR 8.83

$1.16 Rp 20.9K

102.59%

Eggs

$2.73 SAR 10.24

$2.46 Rp 44.4K

10.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.64 SAR 32.44

$14.71 Rp 265.3K

-41.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.02 SAR 37.62

$4.32 Rp 77.9K

131.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.57 SAR 54.7

$12.14 Rp 218.9K

20.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 SAR 8.82

$3.84 Rp 69.3K

-38.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 SAR 6.56

$1.56 Rp 28.1K

12.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 SAR 6.93

$2.83 Rp 51.1K

-34.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 SAR 5.73

$2.33 Rp 41.9K

-34.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 SAR 4.82

$1.91 Rp 34.5K

-32.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 SAR 5.50

$2.20 Rp 39.7K

-33.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 SAR 5.44

$1.01 Rp 18.3K

43.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 SAR 1.99

$0.78 Rp 14.0K

-32.05%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.16 SAR 30.62

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 SAR 6.42

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 SAR 8.94

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.54 SAR 28.29

$3.32 Rp 59.8K

127.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 428.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.6K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.09

$0.27 Rp 4,848

303.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.73 SAR 138

$8.03 Rp 144.8K

357.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 SAR 12.29

$0.46 Rp 8,230

613.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 SAR 6.95

$0.45 Rp 8,116

311.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.49 SAR 50.6

$6.10 Rp 109.9K

121.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.36

$0.79 Rp 14.3K

-20.25%

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

$34.1K SAR 128.1K

$26.1K Rp 471.6M

30.47%

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

$23.4K SAR 87.9K

$32.1K Rp 579.2M

-27.08%

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

$104 SAR 391

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

30.32%

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

$34.25 SAR 129

$4.06 Rp 73.3K

743.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.0 SAR 289

$23.52 Rp 424.1K

227.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$105 SAR 394

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

6.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$58.3 SAR 219

$6.63 Rp 119.6K

779.19%

Cinema Ticket

$16.17 SAR 60.7

$4.15 Rp 74.8K

289.64%

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

$457 SAR 1,716

$304 Rp 5.5M

50.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,739 SAR 36.6K

$6,613 Rp 119.3M

47.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 SAR 223

$55.5 Rp 1.0M

7.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.1 SAR 241

$38.31 Rp 690.9K

67.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 SAR 400

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

20.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 SAR 376

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

28.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 SAR 4,024

$1,006 Rp 18.1M

6.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$841 SAR 3,158

$675 Rp 12.2M

24.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,027 SAR 7,608

$3,442 Rp 62.1M

-41.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,090 SAR 4,093

$2,039 Rp 36.8M

-46.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,075 SAR 11.5K

$2,841 Rp 51.2M

8.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,931 SAR 7,247

$2,264 Rp 40.8M

-14.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,252 SAR 8,453

$165 Rp 3.0M

1262.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.31

13.28

-60.02%

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

Last update for Riyadh: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,072 in Riyadh and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Riyadh pays 1263% 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: $53.0 in Riyadh vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $226 vs $302, 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 23% in total monthly costs ($1,739 vs $1,419 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Riyadh pays 1263% more on average, 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: $1,072 in Riyadh versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,739 per month in Riyadh versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 357% less than in Riyadh. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,739 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 23% less than in Riyadh. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.