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: $773 in Tema versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,223 in Tema versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,673 in Tema versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Tema costs roughly 45% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tema is 44% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.17 GHS 81.0
$3.37 Rp 59.7K
112.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.28 GHS 320
$38.59 Rp 682.4K
-26.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$5.52 Rp 97.6K
-
Cappuccino
$5.21 GHS 58.9
$2.64 Rp 46.8K
97.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 GHS 10.34
$1.67 Rp 29.6K
-44.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 GHS 3.52
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
-59.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.42 GHS 38.62
$2.63 Rp 46.6K
30.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 GHS 30.68
$4.28 Rp 75.7K
-36.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.40 GHS 38.44
$1.55 Rp 27.3K
119.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.65 GHS 18.69
$2.22 Rp 39.3K
-25.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.12 GHS 23.99
$1.13 Rp 19.9K
87.61%
Eggs
$2.44 GHS 27.57
$2.09 Rp 36.9K
16.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.52 GHS 51.1
$17.39 Rp 307.6K
-74.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.31 GHS 37.35
$3.87 Rp 68.4K
-14.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.49 GHS 39.39
$12.55 Rp 221.9K
-72.19%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 GHS 29.38
$3.62 Rp 63.9K
-28.18%
Banana (1kg)
$2.25 GHS 25.42
$1.56 Rp 27.6K
44.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.24 GHS 25.26
$2.35 Rp 41.6K
-4.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.59 GHS 40.57
$2.06 Rp 36.4K
74.27%
Potato (1kg)
$3.62 GHS 40.93
$1.90 Rp 33.6K
90.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.93 GHS 33.05
$2.34 Rp 41.3K
25.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.42 GHS 4.79
$1.03 Rp 18.2K
-59.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 GHS 8.37
$0.55 Rp 9,809
34.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.31 GHS 14.76
$2.25 Rp 39.8K
-41.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.77 GHS 99.1
$23.81 Rp 421.0K
-63.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 GHS 25.78
$2.31 Rp 40.9K
-1.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 GHS 36.01
$2.80 Rp 49.5K
13.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.75 GHS 19.79
$0.27 Rp 4,816
548.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.36 GHS 490
$8.66 Rp 153.2K
400.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.26 GHS 25.57
$0.48 Rp 8,515
370.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 GHS 4.78
$0.45 Rp 7,887
-6.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.72 Rp 101.1K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 GHS 13.16
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
53.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$24.5K Rp 433.0M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.1K Rp 568.0M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 GHS 913
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
-3.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.84 GHS 179
$6.46 Rp 114.2K
145.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.2 GHS 963
$18.99 Rp 335.9K
348.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.86 GHS 281
$56.0 Rp 989.8K
-55.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.62 Rp 329.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.86 GHS 100
$4.28 Rp 75.7K
107.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$177 GHS 2,005
$487 Rp 8.6M
-63.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,686 GHS 30.4K
$5,856 Rp 103.6M
-54.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$13.47 GHS 152
$45.56 Rp 805.6K
-70.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.06 GHS 181
$36.38 Rp 643.3K
-55.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$44.07 GHS 498
$82.0 Rp 1.4M
-46.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.93 GHS 372
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
-59.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$135 GHS 1,531
$1,117 Rp 19.7M
-87.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$73.4 GHS 829
$701 Rp 12.4M
-89.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$441 GHS 4,988
$3,537 Rp 62.5M
-87.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$219 GHS 2,471
$1,762 Rp 31.2M
-87.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,991 GHS 112.9K
$2,826 Rp 50.0M
253.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,102 GHS 69.0K
$2,292 Rp 40.5M
166.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$429 GHS 4,847
$170 Rp 3.0M
152.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
35
13.78
153.99%

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

Last update for Tema: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $135 in Tema and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tema pays 153% 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $225 vs $293 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 81% 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 153% 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: $135 in Tema versus $1,117 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 $39.00 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 $773 per month in Tema versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – a 81% 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 $773 in Tema versus $1,396 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 $773 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 81% 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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