Cost of Living Comparison Between Spanish Town and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Spanish Town and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Spanish Town versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,433 in Spanish Town versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,005 in Spanish Town versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Spanish Town costs roughly 40% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Spanish Town is 36% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Spanish Town
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.35 JMD 1,158
$3.57 Rp 61.6K
105.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.3 JMD 9,809
$32.58 Rp 562.6K
91.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.78 JMD 1,383
$5.07 Rp 87.5K
73.18%
Cappuccino
$4.47 JMD 704
$2.83 Rp 48.8K
57.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 JMD 205
$1.34 Rp 23.1K
-2.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 JMD 118
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
8.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.57 JMD 406
$2.99 Rp 51.6K
-14.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 JMD 490
$3.85 Rp 66.4K
-19.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spanish Town
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 JMD 291
$1.74 Rp 30.1K
6.32%
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 JMD 421
$2.54 Rp 43.8K
5.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.45 JMD 71.1
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
-62.18%
Eggs
$3.22 JMD 507
$2.43 Rp 41.9K
32.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.19 JMD 503
$14.66 Rp 253.2K
-78.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$1.99 JMD 314
$4.18 Rp 72.1K
-52.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$2.79 JMD 439
$11.94 Rp 206.1K
-76.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 JMD 353
$3.69 Rp 63.6K
-39.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.87 JMD 294
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
16.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 JMD 242
$2.69 Rp 46.4K
-43.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.94 JMD 305
$2.33 Rp 40.2K
-16.74%
Potato (1kg)
$2.12 JMD 333
$1.91 Rp 32.9K
10.99%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 JMD 314
$2.19 Rp 37.7K
-9.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.02 JMD 476
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
184.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 JMD 144
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
26.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.91 JMD 1,404
$3.13 Rp 54.1K
184.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.36 JMD 1,789
$23.49 Rp 405.6K
-51.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 JMD 242
$2.74 Rp 47.3K
-43.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 JMD 388
$2.88 Rp 49.7K
-14.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Spanish Town
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.29 Rp 5,010
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.17 Rp 141.0K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.11 JMD 175
$0.45 Rp 7,834
146.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.27 JMD 514
$0.42 Rp 7,278
678.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.28 JMD 988
$6.16 Rp 106.3K
1.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 JMD 202
$0.84 Rp 14.5K
52.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.7K JMD 6.7M
$26.2K Rp 453.1M
62.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0K JMD 5.3M
$32.5K Rp 560.8M
4.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spanish Town
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 JMD 25.3K
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
105.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.23 JMD 3,501
$3.95 Rp 68.2K
462.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.1 JMD 7,882
$24.40 Rp 421.4K
105.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spanish Town
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.35 Rp 109.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.11 JMD 2,064
$4.04 Rp 69.7K
224.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spanish Town
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$225 JMD 35.4K
$303 Rp 5.2M
-25.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,457 JMD 386.9K
$6,523 Rp 112.6M
-62.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spanish Town
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.73 JMD 4,052
$53.8 Rp 929.5K
-52.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.06 JMD 3,947
$37.98 Rp 655.8K
-34.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.5 JMD 11.1K
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
-18.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.7 JMD 12.2K
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
-1.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spanish Town
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$156 JMD 24.5K
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
-84.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$128 JMD 20.1K
$674 Rp 11.6M
-81.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$638 JMD 100.5K
$3,390 Rp 58.5M
-81.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$373 JMD 58.8K
$2,098 Rp 36.2M
-82.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,985 Rp 51.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,339 Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spanish Town
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,166 JMD 183.7K
$173 Rp 3.0M
573.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.15
13.28
-31.10%

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

Last update for Spanish Town: April 28, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $156 in Spanish Town and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Spanish Town pays 574% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $62.0 in Spanish Town vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $195 vs $298, with Spanish Town cheaper for home cooking.

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
Spanish Town vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Spanish Town or Ubud, Bali?
Spanish Town wins on cost – living expenses run 67% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Spanish Town the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Spanish Town or Ubud, Bali?
Spanish Town pays 574% more on average, 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 Spanish Town vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $156 in Spanish Town versus $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Spanish Town or Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 53% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Spanish Town compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Spanish Town versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali – a 67% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Spanish Town or Ubud, Bali?
At $861 in Spanish Town versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Spanish Town but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Spanish Town the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Spanish Town or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Spanish Town delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $861 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Spanish Town hard to pass up.
How safe is Spanish Town compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Spanish Town 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 Spanish Town gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% 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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