🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $523 in Tarlac City versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $814 in Tarlac City versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,104 in Tarlac City versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Tarlac City costs roughly 62% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tarlac City is 62% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tarlac City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94₱122
$3.44Rp 60.9K
-43.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$7.78₱488
$36.31Rp 643.0K
-78.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.72₱171
$5.71Rp 101.0K
-52.36%
Cappuccino
$1.79₱112
$2.67Rp 47.3K
-32.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49₱30.77
$1.75Rp 31.0K
-72.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30₱18.95
$0.87Rp 15.4K
-65.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.02₱64.2
$2.95Rp 52.3K
-65.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56₱97.7
$4.52Rp 80.0K
-65.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tarlac City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61₱101
$1.62Rp 28.7K
-0.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.15₱71.9
$2.33Rp 41.3K
-50.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02₱63.9
$1.11Rp 19.6K
-8.11%
Eggs
$1.88₱118
$2.20Rp 39.0K
-14.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.94₱310
$17.69Rp 313.3K
-72.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.66₱167
$4.10Rp 72.5K
-35.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.11₱383
$12.18Rp 215.6K
-49.84%
Apples(1kg)
$1.62₱101
$3.71Rp 65.6K
-56.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₱99.8
$1.59Rp 28.1K
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95₱123
$2.28Rp 40.4K
-14.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.04₱65.2
$1.95Rp 34.6K
-46.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.74₱109
$1.91Rp 33.7K
-8.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21₱76.1
$2.33Rp 41.3K
-48.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61₱38.25
$1.01Rp 17.8K
-39.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50₱31.31
$0.55Rp 9,773
-9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87₱180
$2.23Rp 39.5K
28.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.81₱239
$23.07Rp 408.6K
-83.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96₱60.3
$2.42Rp 42.8K
-60.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53₱96.1
$3.00Rp 53.1K
-49.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Tarlac City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₱15.73
$0.27Rp 4,814
-7.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.21₱515
$8.98Rp 159.1K
-8.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.75₱47.32
$0.48Rp 8,566
56.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25₱15.70
$0.43Rp 7,679
-41.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.31₱82.4
$5.64Rp 99.9K
-76.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08₱68.0
$0.80Rp 14.2K
35.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K₱1.3M
$24.9KRp 441.7M
-14.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3K₱1.2M
$31.7KRp 561.5M
-39.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tarlac City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.2₱5,534
$81.5Rp 1.4M
8.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.44₱341
$6.49Rp 115.0K
-16.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.40₱1,468
$18.77Rp 332.4K
24.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tarlac City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.11₱2,516
$56.9Rp 1.0M
-29.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.16₱1,014
$18.73Rp 331.7K
-13.72%
Cinema Ticket
$5.08₱319
$4.54Rp 80.4K
11.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tarlac City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$131₱8,205
$481Rp 8.5M
-72.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5K₱661.4K
$5,711Rp 101.1M
84.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tarlac City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.77₱1,804
$45.52Rp 806.0K
-36.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.79₱1,242
$35.88Rp 635.4K
-44.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$63.1₱3,955
$80.4Rp 1.4M
-21.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.80₱2,998
$78.7Rp 1.4M
-39.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tarlac City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$87.7₱5,503
$1,115Rp 19.7M
-92.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$71.1₱4,460
$698Rp 12.4M
-89.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$250₱15.6K
$3,637Rp 64.4M
-93.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$167₱10.4K
$1,737Rp 30.8M
-90.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$376₱23.6K
$2,784Rp 49.3M
-86.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$290₱18.2K
$2,290Rp 40.5M
-87.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tarlac City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$215₱13.5K
$168Rp 3.0M
27.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.75
13.78
-51.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tarlac City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $87.7 in Tarlac City and $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tarlac City pays 28% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $8.00 in Tarlac City vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $148 vs $295 per month, with Tarlac City 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
Tarlac City vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tarlac City or Ubud, Bali?
Tarlac City wins on cost – living expenses run 161% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tarlac City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tarlac City or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 28% higher in Tarlac City, 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 Tarlac City compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $87.7 in Tarlac City versus $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Tarlac City and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Tarlac City – a meal for two runs $8.00 versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Tarlac City compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $523 per month in Tarlac City versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali – a 161% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tarlac City or in Ubud, Bali?
At $523 in Tarlac City versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Tarlac City but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Tarlac City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tarlac City or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tarlac City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $523 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tarlac City hard to pass up.
How safe is Tarlac City compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Tarlac City 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 Tarlac City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 161% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Tarlac City vs other spots: cost of living compared