😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,245 in Rochester versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,317 in Rochester versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,390 in Rochester versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Rochester is roughly 61% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rochester63% above, Ubud, Bali2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rochester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.56£18.17
$3.37Rp 59.5K
628.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.9£73.2
$38.59Rp 680.3K
156.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.21£7.55
$5.52Rp 97.3K
84.96%
Cappuccino
$4.76£3.52
$2.64Rp 46.6K
80.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18£2.36
$1.67Rp 29.5K
90.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77£2.05
$0.77Rp 13.6K
259.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.20£4.58
$2.63Rp 46.4K
135.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.60£4.14
$4.28Rp 75.5K
30.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rochester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68£1.25
$1.55Rp 27.3K
8.39%
White Bread(500g)
$2.10£1.55
$2.22Rp 39.2K
-5.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73£1.28
$1.13Rp 19.8K
53.10%
Eggs
$2.96£2.19
$2.09Rp 36.8K
41.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.85£3.59
$17.39Rp 306.7K
-72.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.42£5.49
$3.87Rp 68.2K
91.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.47£8.48
$12.55Rp 221.3K
-8.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75£2.03
$3.62Rp 63.8K
-24.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.94£1.44
$1.56Rp 27.5K
24.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.56£1.89
$2.35Rp 41.5K
8.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.40£1.77
$2.06Rp 36.2K
16.50%
Potato(1kg)
$2.03£1.50
$1.90Rp 33.5K
6.84%
Onion(1kg)
$1.29£0.95
$2.34Rp 41.2K
-44.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04£0.77
$1.03Rp 18.2K
0.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71£1.26
$0.55Rp 9,780
210.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$22.80£16.87
$2.25Rp 39.7K
913.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.79£7.98
$23.81Rp 419.7K
-54.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.00£2.22
$2.31Rp 40.8K
29.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25£2.41
$2.80Rp 49.4K
16.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Rochester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.53£2.61
$0.27Rp 4,802
1207.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$94.7£70.1
$8.66Rp 152.7K
994.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.08£3.76
$0.48Rp 8,489
958.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.79£2.06
$0.45Rp 7,864
520.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.53£30.72
$5.72Rp 100.8K
626.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.13£1.57
$0.76Rp 13.4K
180.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.7K£29.3K
$24.5KRp 431.7M
61.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.2K£30.5K
$32.1KRp 566.3M
28.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rochester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$194£143
$83.6Rp 1.5M
132.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.17£12.70
$6.46Rp 113.8K
165.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.26£22.38
$18.99Rp 334.9K
59.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rochester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.99£30.32
$56.0Rp 986.9K
-26.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.62Rp 328.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$18.11£13.40
$4.28Rp 75.5K
323.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rochester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$506£374
$487Rp 8.6M
3.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$31.6K£23.4K
$5,856Rp 103.2M
439.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rochester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.4£49.83
$45.56Rp 803.2K
47.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.50£29.96
$36.38Rp 641.4K
11.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.4£44.70
$82.0Rp 1.4M
-26.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.9£67.3
$80.4Rp 1.4M
13.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rochester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,378£1,019
$1,117Rp 19.7M
23.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,061£785
$701Rp 12.4M
51.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,824£1,350
$3,537Rp 62.4M
-48.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,725£1,276
$1,762Rp 31.1M
-2.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,369£3,972
$2,826Rp 49.8M
89.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,056£3,001
$2,292Rp 40.4M
76.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rochester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,352£2,480
$170Rp 3.0M
1874.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.12
13.78
-62.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rochester: August 31, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,378 in Rochester and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rochester pays 1874% 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: $99.0 in Rochester vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $293, with Rochester 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
Rochester vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rochester or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 61% lower than in Rochester. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Rochester or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 1874% higher in Rochester, 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 Rochester compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,378 in Rochester versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Rochester compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $2,245 per month in Rochester versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – a 61% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Rochester compared to Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 994% less than in Rochester. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Rochester or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,245 in Rochester, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Rochester. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rochester or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,396 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Rochester compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Rochester 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 Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Rochester. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.