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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,572 per month in Swords vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,724 per month in Swords vs $2,582 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,876 per month in Swords vs $3,757 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Swords costs about 83% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Swords and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median โ€“ Swords by 92%, Ubud, Bali by 5%.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Swords
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.36 โ‚ฌ15.66
$3.42 Rpย 58.7K
436.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.5 โ‚ฌ80.6
$32.96 Rpย 566.5K
186.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.48 โ‚ฌ8.94
$5.08 Rpย 87.3K
106.30%
Cappuccino
$4.40 โ‚ฌ3.75
$2.82 Rpย 48.5K
56.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 โ‚ฌ2.00
$1.37 Rpย 23.5K
70.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 โ‚ฌ1.33
$0.71 Rpย 12.2K
119.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.96 โ‚ฌ5.93
$2.97 Rpย 51.0K
134.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.19 โ‚ฌ5.28
$3.91 Rpย 67.2K
58.31%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Swords
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 โ‚ฌ1.24
$1.75 Rpย 30.0K
-17.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.12 โ‚ฌ1.81
$2.52 Rpย 43.2K
-15.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.00 โ‚ฌ1.71
$1.21 Rpย 20.8K
65.29%
Eggs
$4.03 โ‚ฌ3.44
$2.33 Rpย 40.1K
72.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.28 โ‚ฌ9.62
$14.50 Rpย 249.2K
-22.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.56 โ‚ฌ9.01
$4.36 Rpย 74.9K
142.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 โ‚ฌ10.22
$12.05 Rpย 207.0K
-0.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.92 โ‚ฌ2.49
$3.82 Rpย 65.6K
-23.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 โ‚ฌ1.69
$1.61 Rpย 27.7K
22.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.75 โ‚ฌ2.35
$2.70 Rpย 46.5K
1.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.42 โ‚ฌ2.92
$2.23 Rpย 38.3K
53.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 โ‚ฌ1.17
$1.90 Rpย 32.6K
-27.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.43 โ‚ฌ1.22
$2.18 Rpย 37.5K
-34.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.34 โ‚ฌ1.14
$1.03 Rpย 17.7K
30.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 โ‚ฌ1.42
$0.77 Rpย 13.3K
115.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.62 โ‚ฌ16.74
$3.18 Rpย 54.7K
516.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.15 โ‚ฌ12.07
$23.23 Rpย 399.2K
-39.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.63 โ‚ฌ3.10
$2.85 Rpย 48.9K
27.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 โ‚ฌ3.40
$2.72 Rpย 46.7K
46.32%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Swords
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.41 โ‚ฌ2.06
$0.29 Rpย 5,022
731.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$99.8 โ‚ฌ85.2
$8.43 Rpย 144.8K
1084.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.87 โ‚ฌ4.15
$0.49 Rpย 8,344
893.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 โ‚ฌ1.78
$0.45 Rpย 7,812
364.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$38.46 โ‚ฌ32.80
$6.28 Rpย 107.8K
512.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.00 โ‚ฌ1.71
$0.85 Rpย 14.6K
135.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.1K โ‚ฌ36.8K
$26.1K Rpย 447.8M
65.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.8K โ‚ฌ33.9K
$31.5K Rpย 541.8M
26.23%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Swords
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$280 โ‚ฌ239
$79.8 Rpย 1.4M
251.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.23 โ‚ฌ19.81
$4.09 Rpย 70.3K
467.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.3 โ‚ฌ46.32
$24.06 Rpย 413.6K
125.73%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Swords
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.03 โ‚ฌ35.00
$96.2 Rpย 1.7M
-57.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.53 Rpย 112.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.12 โ‚ฌ12.05
$4.13 Rpย 71.1K
241.89%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Swords
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,075 โ‚ฌ917
$297 Rpย 5.1M
262.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,257 โ‚ฌ7,044
$6,661 Rpย 114.5M
23.97%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Swords
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.9 โ‚ฌ77.6
$55.0 Rpย 944.5K
65.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.66 โ‚ฌ33.83
$38.75 Rpย 666.0K
2.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.8 โ‚ฌ85.1
$89.6 Rpย 1.5M
11.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 โ‚ฌ90.7
$78.9 Rpย 1.4M
34.71%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Swords
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,467 โ‚ฌ1,252
$1,018 Rpย 17.5M
44.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 โ‚ฌ1,070
$660 Rpย 11.3M
90.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,426 โ‚ฌ2,069
$3,435 Rpย 59.0M
-29.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,979 โ‚ฌ1,688
$2,053 Rpย 35.3M
-3.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,018 โ‚ฌ4,281
$2,981 Rpย 51.2M
68.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,068 โ‚ฌ4,323
$2,368 Rpย 40.7M
114.02%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Swords
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$172 Rpย 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.04
13.28
-69.58%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Swords: April 21, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,467 in Swords 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $95 in Swords versus $33 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $324 vs $299 โ€“ making Ubud, Bali 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
Swords vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Swords and Ubud, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,572 in Swords, $1,408 in Ubud, Bali โ€“ roughly 83% apart. Swords costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Swords compared to Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,859 per month in Swords and $2,112 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Swords and Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Swords and Ubud, Bali?
Public transport costs about 1084% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Swords and Ubud, Bali?
Kindergarten costs $1,075 per month in Swords and $297 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,408, than in Swords at $2,572. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Swords it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Swords and Ubud, Bali?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,408 in Ubud, Bali to $2,572 in Swords. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Swords or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ€“ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Swords and Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Swords makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Swords vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities