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: $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
$7.50 GHS 88.0
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
110.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.73 GHS 326
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
-15.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.18 GHS 96.0
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
65.25%
Cappuccino
$1.46 GHS 17.14
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
-46.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00 GHS 11.78
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
-25.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 GHS 3.93
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
-52.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 GHS 20.38
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
-40.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 GHS 31.63
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
-32.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.98 GHS 34.94
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
64.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 GHS 19.69
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
-33.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 GHS 18.22
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
33.62%
Eggs
$2.18 GHS 25.64
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
-11.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.72 GHS 43.73
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
-74.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.73 GHS 32.08
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
-36.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$2.44 GHS 28.63
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
-79.90%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 GHS 31.76
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
-29.43%
Banana (1kg)
$2.08 GHS 24.38
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
33.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.07 GHS 24.27
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
-26.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.89 GHS 33.97
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
24.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 GHS 21.60
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
-3.66%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 GHS 23.15
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
-10.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 GHS 7.16
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
-39.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 GHS 9.63
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
5.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
-
Wine (Bottle)
$7.21 GHS 84.7
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-69.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 GHS 9.66
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
-70.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 GHS 23.87
$0.27 Rp 4,800
651.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.80 GHS 467
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
395.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 GHS 16.64
$0.46 Rp 8,150
208.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.77 GHS 9.00
$0.45 Rp 8,037
71.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 GHS 13.98
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
50.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$30.84 GHS 362
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
-61.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.26 GHS 144
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
201.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.6 GHS 759
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
174.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.37 GHS 227
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-80.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$82.4 GHS 967
$304 Rp 5.4M
-72.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.07 GHS 294
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
-54.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.67 GHS 290
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
-35.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.82 GHS 538
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
-48.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.6 GHS 712
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
-22.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$117 GHS 1,371
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
-88.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$66.6 GHS 782
$675 Rp 12.1M
-90.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$139 GHS 1,629
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
-93.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.0K GHS 117.6K
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
252.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,030 GHS 70.8K
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
166.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tema
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$390 GHS 4,576
$165 Rp 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.

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