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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $624 in Tema versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $995 in Tema versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,365 in Tema versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.

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

The two cities straddle the global median: Tema is 53% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.19 GHS 83.0
$3.45 Rp 62.0K
108.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.76 GHS 321
$32.34 Rp 580.1K
-14.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.82 GHS 90.3
$4.84 Rp 86.9K
61.57%
Cappuccino
$1.46 GHS 16.84
$2.75 Rp 49.3K
-46.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 GHS 12.05
$1.38 Rp 24.8K
-24.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 GHS 3.57
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
-58.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 GHS 20.04
$2.99 Rp 53.7K
-41.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 GHS 30.81
$3.85 Rp 69.1K
-30.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.05 GHS 35.25
$1.74 Rp 31.1K
75.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 GHS 18.66
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
-34.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 GHS 18.06
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
33.33%
Eggs
$2.19 GHS 25.24
$2.43 Rp 43.6K
-9.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.66 GHS 42.30
$14.50 Rp 260.2K
-74.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.64 GHS 30.46
$4.35 Rp 78.0K
-39.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$2.41 GHS 27.83
$11.98 Rp 214.9K
-79.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 GHS 32.68
$3.72 Rp 66.7K
-23.92%
Banana (1kg)
$2.02 GHS 23.38
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
23.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.09 GHS 24.13
$2.74 Rp 49.2K
-23.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.86 GHS 32.98
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
27.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 GHS 20.99
$1.92 Rp 34.4K
-5.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 GHS 22.93
$2.28 Rp 40.8K
-12.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.64 GHS 7.39
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
-39.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 GHS 10.13
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
22.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.29 Rp 58.9K
-
Wine (Bottle)
$7.04 GHS 81.3
$23.19 Rp 416.1K
-69.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 GHS 10.11
$2.78 Rp 49.8K
-68.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.73 Rp 49.0K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.10 GHS 24.28
$0.27 Rp 4,778
677.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.03 GHS 462
$8.11 Rp 145.4K
393.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 GHS 15.76
$0.48 Rp 8,659
183.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 GHS 8.76
$0.42 Rp 7,532
80.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$6.22 Rp 111.6K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 GHS 13.81
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
48.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.6K Rp 477.4M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.2K Rp 577.4M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$31.32 GHS 362
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-60.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.42 GHS 143
$4.07 Rp 73.0K
205.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.6 GHS 746
$24.33 Rp 436.4K
165.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.29 GHS 223
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-80.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.34 Rp 113.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$3.99 Rp 71.5K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$83.0 GHS 958
$305 Rp 5.5M
-72.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$6,642 Rp 119.2M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.46 GHS 282
$54.1 Rp 971.2K
-54.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.21 GHS 280
$37.81 Rp 678.2K
-35.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.56 GHS 526
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
-47.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.8 GHS 714
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
-19.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$118 GHS 1,364
$992 Rp 17.8M
-88.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$65.8 GHS 760
$673 Rp 12.1M
-90.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,375 Rp 60.5M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$136 GHS 1,575
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
-93.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,960 GHS 115.0K
$2,805 Rp 50.3M
255.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,047 GHS 69.8K
$2,227 Rp 39.9M
171.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$414 GHS 4,777
$167 Rp 3.0M
147.72%
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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Tema and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tema pays 148% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $297 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 125% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 148% higher in Tema, 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 compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $118 in Tema versus $992 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 and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Tema – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $32.00 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 $624 per month in Tema versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – a 125% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
At $624 in Tema versus $1,408 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 $624 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 125% 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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