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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,127 per month in Saitama vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,830 per month in Saitama vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,533 per month in Saitama vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Saitama is about 20% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Saitama sits 16% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.87 ¥955

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

70.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.39 ¥5,590

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

6.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.98 ¥810

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

2.89%

Cappuccino

$3.08 ¥500

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

12.00%

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

$0.71 ¥115

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

-48.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 ¥121

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

-1.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 ¥329

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

-32.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 ¥495

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

-21.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 ¥245

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

-13.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.66 ¥270

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

-32.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.94 ¥477

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

151.28%

Eggs

$2.23 ¥363

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

-8.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.20 ¥1,658

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

-29.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.91 ¥960

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

35.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.52 ¥2,523

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

29.55%

Apples (1kg)

$5.95 ¥968

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

59.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 ¥218

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

-17.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.90 ¥634

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

42.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.91 ¥960

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

163.84%

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 ¥526

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

68.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.76 ¥286

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

-22.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 ¥218

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

26.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ¥132

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.06 ¥660

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

23.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.17 ¥1,328

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

-64.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ¥287

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

-36.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ¥329

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

-25.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.68 ¥273

$0.27 Rp 4,778

522.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.8 ¥8,907

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

575.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.44 ¥558

$0.48 Rp 8,659

616.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.87 ¥466

$0.42 Rp 7,532

583.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.85 ¥3,552

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

251.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥192

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

45.68%

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

$23.5K ¥3.8M

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

-11.70%

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

$18.2K ¥3.0M

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

-43.45%

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

$141 ¥22.9K

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

79.90%

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

$19.47 ¥3,164

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

378.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.15 ¥5,551

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

40.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.2 ¥11.2K

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

-29.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.76 ¥2,236

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

117.03%

Cinema Ticket

$11.91 ¥1,936

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

198.50%

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

$283 ¥46.1K

$305 Rp 5.5M

-7.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.8K ¥2.2M

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

107.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.81 ¥6,145

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

-30.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.07 ¥4,562

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

-25.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.9 ¥9,727

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

-31.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.7 ¥11.2K

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

-10.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ¥69.6K

$992 Rp 17.8M

-56.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$259 ¥42.0K

$673 Rp 12.1M

-61.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$877 ¥142.6K

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

-74.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$656 ¥106.5K

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

-68.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,887 ¥794.2K

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

74.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,152 ¥349.8K

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

-3.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,474 ¥239.6K

$167 Rp 3.0M

783.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.86

13.28

-85.99%

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

Last update for Saitama: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Saitama versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 783% higher in Saitama, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Saitama versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $297 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 25%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,691 per month in Saitama and $2,112 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Saitama, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 576% less in Saitama. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $283 per month in Saitama and $305 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Saitama, where all-in costs run around $1,127, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Saitama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Saitama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Saitama. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.