Cost of Living Comparison Between Tarlac City and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Tarlac City and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $621 in Tarlac City versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $954 in Tarlac City versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,286 in Tarlac City versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Tarlac City costs roughly 56% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tarlac City is 54% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tarlac City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.70 ₱166
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
-24.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.96 ₱922
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
-54.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.51 ₱216
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
-29.09%
Cappuccino
$1.57 ₱96.7
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
-42.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ₱53.4
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
-35.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 ₱15.95
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
-62.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.99 ₱60.8
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
-66.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₱106
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
-56.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tarlac City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ₱103
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
-8.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 ₱95.3
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
-38.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.98 ₱60.7
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
-15.52%
Eggs
$2.02 ₱124
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
-17.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.07 ₱560
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
-38.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.21 ₱198
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
-25.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.91 ₱365
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
-51.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 ₱178
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
-24.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ₱99.6
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
3.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 ₱132
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
-24.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ₱94.0
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
-34.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 ₱89.2
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
-24.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 ₱72.9
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
-46.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 ₱56.9
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
-8.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 ₱55.4
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
15.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.78 ₱171
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
-16.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.76 ₱232
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-84.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ₱50.9
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
-70.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ₱96.5
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
-45.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Tarlac City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 ₱17.30
$0.27 Rp 4,800
3.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.93 ₱489
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
-1.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 ₱51.7
$0.46 Rp 8,150
82.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 ₱13.50
$0.45 Rp 8,037
-51.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.11 ₱130
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
-65.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₱71.0
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
45.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K ₱1.8M
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
9.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7K ₱1.2M
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
-38.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tarlac City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 ₱6,199
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
25.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.85 ₱977
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
290.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.78 ₱1,651
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
13.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tarlac City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.51 ₱2,745
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-54.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.48 ₱1,078
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
163.65%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27 ₱387
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
51.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tarlac City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$170 ₱10.5K
$304 Rp 5.4M
-44.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.0K ₱866.1K
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
112.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tarlac City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.32 ₱2,856
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
-16.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.53 ₱1,636
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
-30.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$50.4 ₱3,109
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
-43.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$37.32 ₱2,301
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
-52.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tarlac City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$131 ₱8,057
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
-87.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$103 ₱6,333
$675 Rp 12.1M
-84.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$268 ₱16.5K
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-92.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$176 ₱10.9K
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
-91.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$372 ₱23.0K
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
-86.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$294 ₱18.1K
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
-87.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tarlac City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$212 ₱13.1K
$165 Rp 3.0M
28.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.17
13.28
-53.54%

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

Last update for Tarlac City: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $131 in Tarlac City and $1,006 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: $15.00 in Tarlac City vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $302 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 128% 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 Ubud, Bali?
Tarlac City pays 28% 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 Tarlac City vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $131 in Tarlac City versus $1,006 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Tarlac City – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $33.00 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 $621 per month in Tarlac City versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – a 128% 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 Ubud, Bali?
At $621 in Tarlac City versus $1,419 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 $621 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 128% 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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