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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $406 per month in Shillong vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $645 per month in Shillong vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $884 per month in Shillong vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Shillong is about 71% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Shillong sits 70% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.91 ₹277

$3.37 Rp 59.8K

-13.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.38 ₹1,080

$38.59 Rp 683.8K

-70.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 ₹452

$5.52 Rp 97.8K

-13.77%

Cappuccino

$1.60 ₹152

$2.64 Rp 46.9K

-39.39%

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

$0.44 ₹41.45

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

-73.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 ₹16.40

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

-77.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.25 ₹118

$2.63 Rp 46.7K

-52.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ₹319

$4.28 Rp 75.9K

-21.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.66 ₹62.5

$1.55 Rp 27.4K

-57.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.35 ₹32.82

$2.22 Rp 39.4K

-84.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.60 ₹56.8

$1.13 Rp 19.9K

-46.90%

Eggs

$0.92 ₹87.5

$2.09 Rp 37.0K

-55.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.01 ₹381

$17.39 Rp 308.2K

-76.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.42 ₹229

$3.87 Rp 68.5K

-37.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.55 Rp 222.4K

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 ₹201

$3.62 Rp 64.1K

-41.44%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 ₹62.5

$1.56 Rp 27.6K

-57.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 ₹85.2

$2.35 Rp 41.7K

-61.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 ₹52.3

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

-73.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 ₹31.44

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

-82.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₹35.80

$2.34 Rp 41.4K

-83.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.20 ₹18.98

$1.03 Rp 18.3K

-80.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 ₹23.57

$0.55 Rp 9,830

-54.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.97 ₹472

$2.25 Rp 39.9K

120.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.59 ₹436

$23.81 Rp 421.9K

-80.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 ₹117

$2.31 Rp 41.0K

-46.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 ₹189

$2.80 Rp 49.6K

-28.93%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$4.93 ₹468

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,827

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 153.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 ₹65.0

$0.48 Rp 8,533

41.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 ₹28.87

$0.45 Rp 7,904

-33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.30 ₹123

$5.72 Rp 101.4K

-77.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 ₹98.2

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

35.53%

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

$12.6K ₹1.2M

$24.5K Rp 433.9M

-48.66%

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

$16.2K ₹1.5M

$32.1K Rp 569.3M

-49.49%

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

$34.28 ₹3,255

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

-58.97%

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

$3.18 ₹302

$6.46 Rp 114.4K

-50.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.17 ₹585

$18.99 Rp 336.6K

-67.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.12 ₹961

$56.0 Rp 992.0K

-81.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.30 ₹503

$18.62 Rp 329.9K

-71.54%

Cinema Ticket

$3.08 ₹293

$4.28 Rp 75.9K

-28.04%

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

$27.60 ₹2,620

$487 Rp 8.6M

-94.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,168 ₹110.8K

$5,856 Rp 103.8M

-80.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.42 ₹1,654

$45.56 Rp 807.4K

-61.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.65 ₹2,055

$36.38 Rp 644.7K

-40.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$37.08 ₹3,521

$82.0 Rp 1.5M

-54.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.72 ₹2,632

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

-65.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$213 ₹20.2K

$1,117 Rp 19.8M

-80.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$133 ₹12.7K

$701 Rp 12.4M

-80.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$730 ₹69.3K

$3,537 Rp 62.7M

-79.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$284 ₹27.0K

$1,762 Rp 31.2M

-83.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 50.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$451 ₹42.8K

$170 Rp 3.0M

165.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.38

13.78

-46.44%

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

Last update for Shillong: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $213 in Shillong versus $1,117 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 166% higher in Shillong, 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 $11.00 in Shillong versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $86.0 vs $293 – making Shillong 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

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

Ubud, Bali costs about 244% more than Shillong, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $609 per month in Shillong and $2,095 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $406 in Shillong and $1,396 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $27.60 per month in Shillong and $487 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Shillong, where all-in costs run around $406, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Shillong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Shillong costs $406 versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Shillong. 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.