🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $611 in Tema versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $989 in Tema versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,367 in Tema versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Tema costs roughly 57% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tema is 54% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.50GHS 88.0
$3.56Rp 63.7K
110.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.73GHS 326
$32.73Rp 584.5K
-15.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.18GHS 96.0
$4.95Rp 88.4K
65.25%
Cappuccino
$1.46GHS 17.14
$2.71Rp 48.4K
-46.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00GHS 11.78
$1.34Rp 24.0K
-25.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33GHS 3.93
$0.70Rp 12.5K
-52.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74GHS 20.38
$2.92Rp 52.1K
-40.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69GHS 31.63
$3.96Rp 70.7K
-32.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.98GHS 34.94
$1.81Rp 32.3K
64.64%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68GHS 19.69
$2.52Rp 45.0K
-33.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55GHS 18.22
$1.16Rp 20.7K
33.62%
Eggs
$2.18GHS 25.64
$2.46Rp 43.9K
-11.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.72GHS 43.73
$14.71Rp 262.7K
-74.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.73GHS 32.08
$4.32Rp 77.1K
-36.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$2.44GHS 28.63
$12.14Rp 216.7K
-79.90%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71GHS 31.76
$3.84Rp 68.6K
-29.43%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08GHS 24.38
$1.56Rp 27.8K
33.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.07GHS 24.27
$2.83Rp 50.6K
-26.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.89GHS 33.97
$2.33Rp 41.5K
24.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84GHS 21.60
$1.91Rp 34.2K
-3.66%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97GHS 23.15
$2.20Rp 39.3K
-10.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61GHS 7.16
$1.01Rp 18.1K
-39.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82GHS 9.63
$0.78Rp 13.8K
5.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.32Rp 59.2K
-
Wine(Bottle)
$7.21GHS 84.7
$23.74Rp 423.9K
-69.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.82GHS 9.66
$2.79Rp 49.8K
-70.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.86Rp 51.1K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.03GHS 23.87
$0.27Rp 4,800
651.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.80GHS 467
$8.03Rp 143.4K
395.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42GHS 16.64
$0.46Rp 8,150
208.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.77GHS 9.00
$0.45Rp 8,037
71.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$6.10Rp 108.9K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19GHS 13.98
$0.79Rp 14.2K
50.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.1KRp 467.0M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.1KRp 573.6M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$30.84GHS 362
$79.9Rp 1.4M
-61.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.26GHS 144
$4.06Rp 72.6K
201.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.6GHS 759
$23.52Rp 420.0K
174.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.37GHS 227
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-80.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.63Rp 118.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.15Rp 74.1K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$82.4GHS 967
$304Rp 5.4M
-72.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$6,613Rp 118.1M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.07GHS 294
$55.5Rp 991.8K
-54.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.67GHS 290
$38.31Rp 684.1K
-35.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$45.82GHS 538
$88.6Rp 1.6M
-48.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.6GHS 712
$77.9Rp 1.4M
-22.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$117GHS 1,371
$1,006Rp 18.0M
-88.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$66.6GHS 782
$675Rp 12.1M
-90.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,442Rp 61.5M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$139GHS 1,629
$2,039Rp 36.4M
-93.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$10.0KGHS 117.6K
$2,841Rp 50.7M
252.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,030GHS 70.8K
$2,264Rp 40.4M
166.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$390GHS 4,576
$165Rp 3.0M
135.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
32.5
13.28
144.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tema: May 31, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $117 in Tema and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tema pays 136% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $28.00 in Tema vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $302 per month, with Tema 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
Tema vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tema or Ubud, Bali?
Tema wins on cost – living expenses run 132% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tema the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tema or Ubud, Bali?
Tema pays 136% 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 Tema vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $117 in Tema 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 Tema vs Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Tema – a meal for two runs $28.00 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 Tema compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $611 per month in Tema versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – a 132% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tema or Ubud, Bali?
At $611 in Tema versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Tema but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Tema the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tema or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tema delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $611 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tema hard to pass up.
How safe is Tema compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Tema 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 Tema gentler on the wallet – expenses run 132% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.