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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,062 in Side versus $1,397 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,635 in Side versus $2,588 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,207 in Side versus $3,778 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Side costs roughly 24% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Side is 20% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Side
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.80 ₺369
$3.43 Rp 61.5K
127.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.17 ₺1,097
$31.97 Rp 573.3K
-27.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.27 ₺297
$5.05 Rp 90.6K
24.16%
Cappuccino
$2.80 ₺133
$2.71 Rp 48.7K
3.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 ₺80.4
$1.39 Rp 24.9K
22.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ₺20.76
$0.74 Rp 13.3K
-40.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.98 ₺141
$2.89 Rp 51.9K
3.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02 ₺190
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
6.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Side
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 ₺42.12
$1.79 Rp 32.2K
-50.28%
White Bread (500g)
$0.93 ₺44.20
$2.51 Rp 44.9K
-62.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 ₺43.82
$1.21 Rp 21.8K
-23.14%
Eggs
$1.77 ₺83.8
$2.37 Rp 42.5K
-25.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.33 ₺394
$14.43 Rp 258.8K
-42.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.48 ₺259
$4.15 Rp 74.4K
32.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.39 ₺776
$12.11 Rp 217.3K
35.34%
Apples (1kg)
$1.05 ₺49.59
$3.77 Rp 67.6K
-72.15%
Banana (1kg)
$2.09 ₺99.1
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
28.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.79 ₺37.30
$2.71 Rp 48.5K
-70.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.10 ₺51.9
$2.26 Rp 40.5K
-51.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.60 ₺28.17
$1.93 Rp 34.5K
-68.91%
Onion (1kg)
$0.46 ₺21.68
$2.19 Rp 39.3K
-79.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.28 ₺60.5
$1.02 Rp 18.3K
25.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34 ₺16.23
$0.72 Rp 12.8K
-52.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.13 ₺101
$3.18 Rp 57.1K
-33.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.87 ₺609
$23.84 Rp 427.5K
-46.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 ₺77.6
$2.77 Rp 49.8K
-40.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 ₺101
$2.75 Rp 49.3K
-22.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Side
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 ₺32.05
$0.27 Rp 4,794
151.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.96 ₺1,465
$8.20 Rp 147.0K
277.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.08 ₺51.3
$0.48 Rp 8,668
125.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 ₺28.36
$0.42 Rp 7,557
42.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.59 ₺359
$6.03 Rp 108.1K
25.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 ₺55.3
$0.82 Rp 14.7K
42.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.5K ₺1.9M
$26.6K Rp 476.4M
52.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.5K ₺2.0M
$32.2K Rp 577.6M
31.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Side
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$48.49 ₺2,295
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
-38.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.06 ₺381
$3.91 Rp 70.2K
106.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.44 ₺305
$23.91 Rp 428.9K
-73.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Side
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.00 ₺2,082
$96.2 Rp 1.7M
-54.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.53 Rp 117.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.43 ₺304
$4.01 Rp 72.0K
60.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Side
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$601 ₺28.4K
$303 Rp 5.4M
98.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,869 ₺419.7K
$6,551 Rp 117.5M
35.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Side
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.3 ₺3,565
$55.3 Rp 992.0K
36.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.37 ₺2,100
$38.32 Rp 687.3K
15.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$159 ₺7,524
$88.5 Rp 1.6M
79.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 ₺5,297
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
45.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Side
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$517 ₺24.4K
$986 Rp 17.7M
-47.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$397 ₺18.8K
$682 Rp 12.2M
-41.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$876 ₺41.5K
$3,420 Rp 61.3M
-74.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$711 ₺33.7K
$2,075 Rp 37.2M
-65.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,252 ₺59.3K
$2,762 Rp 49.5M
-54.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,012 ₺47.9K
$2,243 Rp 40.2M
-54.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Side
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$169 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20
13.28
50.60%

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

Last update for Side: July 20, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $517 in Side and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Side vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $207 vs $298 per month, with Side cheaper across the board.

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
Side vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Side?
Side is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,593 in Side and $2,096 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Side and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $517 in Side versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Side and in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Side or in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Side – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Side or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,062 in Side versus $1,397 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Side but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Side the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Side or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Side is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Side or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Side 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Side gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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