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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $337 per month in Shimla vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $539 per month in Shimla vs $2,582 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $742 per month in Shimla vs $3,757 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Shimla is about 76% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Shimla sits 75% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 ₹167

$3.42 Rp 58.7K

-47.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$5.90 ₹554

$32.96 Rp 566.5K

-82.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.56 ₹334

$5.08 Rp 87.3K

-29.92%

Cappuccino

$0.93 ₹87.2

$2.82 Rp 48.5K

-67.02%

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

$0.31 ₹29.53

$1.37 Rp 23.5K

-77.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 ₹14.11

$0.71 Rp 12.2K

-78.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.62 ₹152

$2.97 Rp 51.0K

-45.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 ₹216

$3.91 Rp 67.2K

-41.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 ₹70.7

$1.75 Rp 30.0K

-57.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 ₹41.38

$2.52 Rp 43.2K

-82.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.64 ₹59.8

$1.21 Rp 20.8K

-47.11%

Eggs

$0.86 ₹80.3

$2.33 Rp 40.1K

-63.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.36 ₹409

$14.50 Rp 249.2K

-69.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.70 ₹347

$4.36 Rp 74.9K

-15.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.05 Rp 207.0K

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 ₹185

$3.82 Rp 65.6K

-48.43%

Banana (1kg)

$0.70 ₹65.5

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

-56.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 ₹76.7

$2.70 Rp 46.5K

-69.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 ₹52.3

$2.23 Rp 38.3K

-74.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 ₹32.54

$1.90 Rp 32.6K

-81.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.44 ₹41.34

$2.18 Rp 37.5K

-79.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.22 ₹20.63

$1.03 Rp 17.7K

-78.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 ₹31.54

$0.77 Rp 13.3K

-55.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.46 ₹418

$3.18 Rp 54.7K

40.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.26 ₹494

$23.23 Rp 399.2K

-77.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ₹159

$2.85 Rp 48.9K

-40.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₹211

$2.72 Rp 46.7K

-17.28%

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

$5.91 ₹555

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₹20.53

$0.29 Rp 5,022

-24.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.78 ₹824

$8.43 Rp 144.8K

4.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₹77.8

$0.49 Rp 8,344

69.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,812

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₹110

$6.28 Rp 107.8K

-81.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ₹111

$0.85 Rp 14.6K

40.00%

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

$15.0K ₹1.4M

$26.1K Rp 447.8M

-42.63%

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

$19.7K ₹1.8M

$31.5K Rp 541.8M

-37.56%

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

$19.05 ₹1,788

$79.8 Rp 1.4M

-76.12%

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

$3.45 ₹324

$4.09 Rp 70.3K

-15.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.69 ₹721

$24.06 Rp 413.6K

-68.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.60 ₹1,370

$96.2 Rp 1.7M

-84.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.20 ₹676

$6.53 Rp 112.2K

10.26%

Cinema Ticket

$3.44 ₹323

$4.13 Rp 71.1K

-16.71%

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

$46.07 ₹4,324

$297 Rp 5.1M

-84.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,352 ₹220.8K

$6,661 Rp 114.5M

-64.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.31 ₹3,127

$55.0 Rp 944.5K

-39.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.80 ₹2,704

$38.75 Rp 666.0K

-25.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.18 ₹4,334

$89.6 Rp 1.5M

-48.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.10 ₹2,731

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

-63.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$94.6 ₹8,878

$1,018 Rp 17.5M

-90.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$58.3 ₹5,467

$660 Rp 11.3M

-91.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$223 ₹20.9K

$3,435 Rp 59.0M

-93.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 ₹13.0K

$2,053 Rp 35.3M

-93.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$955 ₹89.6K

$2,981 Rp 51.2M

-67.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$515 ₹48.3K

$2,368 Rp 40.7M

-78.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$577 ₹54.1K

$172 Rp 3.0M

235.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.25

13.28

-37.88%

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

Last update for Shimla: April 20, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $95 in Shimla versus $1,018 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 235% higher in Shimla, 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 $6 in Shimla versus $33 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $100 vs $299 – making Shimla 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $337 in Shimla, $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 318% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $506 per month in Shimla 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 Shimla, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $6.00 in Shimla and $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $337 in Shimla and $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shimla, where all-in costs run around $337, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Shimla it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $337 in Shimla to $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Shimla. 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.