Cost of Living Comparison Between South Portland, ME and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between South Portland, ME and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,053 in South Portland, ME versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,502 in South Portland, ME versus $2,327 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,951 in South Portland, ME versus $3,275 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in South Portland, ME is roughly 122% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: South Portland, ME 121% above, Ubud, Bali 0% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Portland, ME
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.83 $24.83
$3.33 Rp 58.7K
645.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120 $120
$35.82 Rp 630.7K
234.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.77 $14.77
$5.63 Rp 99.1K
162.34%
Cappuccino
$5.30 $5.30
$2.82 Rp 49.7K
87.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 $3.05
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
74.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 $2.41
$0.80 Rp 14.0K
201.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.09 $8.09
$3.04 Rp 53.6K
166.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.24 $8.24
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
91.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Portland, ME
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.61 Rp 28.3K
-38.51%
White Bread (500g)
$4.31 $4.31
$2.27 Rp 39.9K
89.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.50 $6.50
$1.17 Rp 20.6K
455.56%
Eggs
$4.06 $4.06
$2.17 Rp 38.2K
87.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.13 $15.13
$17.63 Rp 310.5K
-14.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.13 $10.13
$4.05 Rp 71.4K
150.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.41 $16.41
$12.18 Rp 214.5K
34.73%
Apples (1kg)
$4.99 $4.99
$3.62 Rp 63.7K
37.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.64 Rp 28.8K
1.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.62 $5.62
$2.31 Rp 40.6K
143.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.06 $7.06
$1.96 Rp 34.5K
260.20%
Potato (1kg)
$3.74 $3.74
$1.84 Rp 32.5K
103.26%
Onion (1kg)
$3.81 $3.81
$2.37 Rp 41.7K
60.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.05 Rp 18.5K
164.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$0.54 Rp 9,560
361.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.16 $11.16
$2.30 Rp 40.6K
385.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.80 $14.80
$23.08 Rp 406.4K
-35.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
-19.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 $2.76
$3.07 Rp 54.0K
-10.10%
🚌 Getting Around
South Portland, ME
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.01 $2.01
$0.25 Rp 4,365
704.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$9.42 Rp 165.9K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.49 Rp 8,631
318.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 $1.54
$0.47 Rp 8,349
227.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.17 $11.17
$5.60 Rp 98.6K
99.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
34.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K $36.5K
$25.0K Rp 440.3M
45.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$31.1K Rp 547.0M
-16.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Portland, ME
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$255 $255
$82.7 Rp 1.5M
208.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.9 $68.9
$6.49 Rp 114.2K
961.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$78.1 $78.1
$18.79 Rp 330.8K
315.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Portland, ME
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.3 $60.3
$55.2 Rp 972.6K
9.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.17 $30.17
$18.21 Rp 320.6K
65.68%
Cinema Ticket
$14.79 $14.79
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
243.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Portland, ME
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$406 $406
$494 Rp 8.7M
-17.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.2K $15.2K
$5,917 Rp 104.2M
157.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Portland, ME
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 $52.6
$46.28 Rp 814.8K
13.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.33 $48.33
$36.44 Rp 641.6K
32.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 $103
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
27.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 $133
$78.8 Rp 1.4M
68.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Portland, ME
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,972 $1,972
$1,114 Rp 19.6M
77.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,546 $1,546
$693 Rp 12.2M
123.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,186 $3,186
$3,639 Rp 64.1M
-12.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,630 $2,630
$1,712 Rp 30.1M
53.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,729 $2,729
$2,761 Rp 48.6M
-1.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,366 $2,366
$2,293 Rp 40.4M
3.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Portland, ME
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,321 $4,321
$167 Rp 2.9M
2485.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.28
13.78
-54.43%

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

Last update for South Portland, ME: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,972 in South Portland, ME and $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

South Portland, ME pays 2486% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $120 in South Portland, ME vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $438 vs $294 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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
South Portland, ME vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, South Portland, ME or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 122% lower than in South Portland, ME. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in South Portland, ME or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 2486% higher in South Portland, ME, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in South Portland, ME compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,972 in South Portland, ME versus $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in South Portland, ME and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $406 in South Portland, ME versus $494 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in South Portland, ME and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $120 in South Portland, ME. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in South Portland, ME or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,053 in South Portland, ME, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in South Portland, ME. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, South Portland, ME or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,378 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is South Portland, ME compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, South Portland, ME 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 122% less than in South Portland, ME. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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