Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in South Africa: $1,182 a month against $1,348 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $2,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ubud, Bali outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,182
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,348
/mo nomad
😐 Solo nomad: South Africa is 29.9% more expensive than Ubud, Bali without rent, and 12.3% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: South Africa is 15% more expensive than Ubud, Bali without rent, and 23% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Africa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.64 R 176
$3.33 Rp 59.6K
219.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.40 R 683
$35.42 Rp 633.1K
16.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.60 R 92.4
$5.76 Rp 102.9K
-2.78%
Cappuccino
$2.28 R 37.63
$2.63 Rp 47.0K
-13.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 R 19.17
$1.74 Rp 31.0K
-33.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 R 15.22
$0.77 Rp 13.8K
19.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.45 R 40.40
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
-9.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 R 48.69
$4.52 Rp 80.8K
-34.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Africa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 R 19.63
$1.53 Rp 27.4K
-22.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.12 R 18.42
$2.20 Rp 39.2K
-49.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.79 R 29.58
$1.22 Rp 21.8K
46.72%
Eggs
$2.48 R 40.88
$2.14 Rp 38.2K
15.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.08 R 133
$17.73 Rp 316.9K
-54.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.13 R 84.7
$3.86 Rp 68.9K
32.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.81 R 129
$12.03 Rp 215.0K
-35.08%
Apples (1kg)
$1.87 R 30.78
$3.61 Rp 64.5K
-48.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 R 27.42
$1.51 Rp 27.1K
9.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 R 29.15
$2.32 Rp 41.4K
-23.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 R 29.67
$2.00 Rp 35.8K
-10.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 R 24.53
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
-17.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 R 24.71
$2.39 Rp 42.7K
-37.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.28 R 21.16
$0.99 Rp 17.8K
29.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 R 17.97
$0.52 Rp 9,373
109.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.22 R 53.2
$2.18 Rp 39.0K
47.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.93 R 81.3
$22.98 Rp 410.7K
-78.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 R 24.47
$2.40 Rp 42.8K
-38.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 R 33.09
$3.00 Rp 53.6K
-33.00%
🚌 Getting Around
South Africa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.60 R 26.39
$0.24 Rp 4,255
566.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.7 R 1,001
$6.99 Rp 125.0K
768.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.09 R 17.98
$0.44 Rp 7,876
147.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 R 16.23
$0.42 Rp 7,582
133.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.42 R 122
$5.45 Rp 97.4K
36.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 R 24.63
$0.84 Rp 15.1K
77.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K R 578.2K
$24.3K Rp 434.8M
44.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6K R 521.1K
$31.9K Rp 570.0M
-0.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Africa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$131 R 2,168
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
62.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.71 R 573
$6.58 Rp 117.6K
427.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.94 R 659
$18.24 Rp 326.1K
118.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Africa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.88 R 559
$55.1 Rp 985.4K
-38.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.39 R 188
$18.51 Rp 330.9K
-38.47%
Cinema Ticket
$7.31 R 121
$4.24 Rp 75.9K
72.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Africa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$225 R 3,715
$486 Rp 8.7M
-53.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,485 R 90.5K
$5,676 Rp 101.5M
-3.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Africa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.0 R 858
$45.18 Rp 807.6K
15.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.30 R 549
$34.57 Rp 617.9K
-3.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.4 R 1,640
$79.2 Rp 1.4M
25.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.4 R 1,441
$77.6 Rp 1.4M
12.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Africa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$480 R 7,918
$1,127 Rp 20.1M
-57.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$406 R 6,692
$674 Rp 12.1M
-39.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$935 R 15.4K
$3,618 Rp 64.7M
-74.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$796 R 13.1K
$1,735 Rp 31.0M
-54.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,111 R 18.3K
$2,829 Rp 50.6M
-60.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$777 R 12.8K
$2,307 Rp 41.2M
-66.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Africa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,476 R 24.4K
$166 Rp 3.0M
790.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.23
13.78
-18.51%

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

Last update for South Africa: October 3, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
South Africa
$406
Ubud, Bali
$674 66.2% $269
Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Africa
$206
Ubud, Bali
$106 48.7% $100
Groceries & Markets
South Africa
$196
Ubud, Bali
$290 48.2% $94
Eating Out
South Africa
$156
Ubud, Bali
$108 30.6% $48
Clothing & Footwear
South Africa
$122
Ubud, Bali
$106 13.1% $16
Getting Around
South Africa
$73
Ubud, Bali
$11 85.6% $63
Sport & Entertainment
South Africa
$49
Ubud, Bali
$64 31.2% $15
Good to know
🇿🇦 South Africa
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
10:02 10:02 AM
16:02 4:02 PM
6 h ahead of South Africa
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
62,027,503
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to ZAR – South African Rand Converter

South African Rand exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 16.5 ZAR (100 ZAR = 6.06 USD). 1 EUR = 18.5 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.4 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 17,875 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.59 USD). 1 EUR = 20,048 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.99 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • South Africa Ubud, Bali 9,460 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • South Africa
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

South Africa vs other spots: cost of living compared

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