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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,164 in Rochester versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,282 in Rochester versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,401 in Rochester versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Rochester is roughly 52% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rochester 61% above, Ubud, Bali 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rochester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.10 £17.91
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
576.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$96.6 £71.8
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
195.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.17 £7.56
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
105.45%
Cappuccino
$4.53 £3.37
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
67.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 £1.71
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
71.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 £2.05
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
294.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.07 £4.51
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
107.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33 £3.96
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
34.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rochester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 £1.03
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
-23.76%
White Bread (500g)
$1.37 £1.02
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
-45.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 £1.22
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
42.24%
Eggs
$3.00 £2.23
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
21.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.61 £3.43
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
-68.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.37 £5.48
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
70.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.68 £8.68
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
-3.79%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 £2.04
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
-28.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 £1.16
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
-0.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.44 £1.81
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
-13.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.39 £1.77
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
2.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.48 £1.10
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
-22.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.29 £0.96
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
-41.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 £0.73
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
-1.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 £1.17
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
102.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$20.32 £15.10
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
512.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.75 £7.99
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-54.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 £1.67
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
-19.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 £2.52
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
18.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Rochester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.44 £2.56
$0.27 Rp 4,800
1174.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.5 £65.8
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
1001.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.16 £3.09
$0.46 Rp 8,150
804.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.68 £1.25
$0.45 Rp 8,037
273.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.74 £10.96
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
141.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.90 £1.41
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
140.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K £25.1K
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
29.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K £23.8K
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
-0.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rochester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 £141
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
136.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.22 £14.29
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
373.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.60 £22.74
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
30.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rochester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.5 £38.26
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-47.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.46 £15.21
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
208.60%
Cinema Ticket
$13.62 £10.12
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
228.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rochester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 £367
$304 Rp 5.4M
62.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.9K £19.3K
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
292.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rochester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.8 £51.2
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
23.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.98 £30.46
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
6.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.8 £45.18
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
-31.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.0 £72.1
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
24.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rochester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 £894
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
19.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,008 £749
$675 Rp 12.1M
49.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,825 £1,357
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-46.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,696 £1,260
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
-16.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,040 £3,746
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
77.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,721 £3,509
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
108.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rochester
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,299 £2,452
$165 Rp 3.0M
1896.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.53
13.28
-58.36%

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

Last update for Rochester: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,203 in Rochester and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rochester pays 1897% 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: $97.0 in Rochester vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $246 vs $302, 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 52% 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 Ubud, Bali?
Rochester pays 1897% more on average, 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,203 in Rochester versus $1,006 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 $2,164 per month in Rochester versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Rochester vs Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 1002% 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 Ubud, Bali?
At $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,164 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 $1,419 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 52% less than in Rochester. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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