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