Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Traverse City, MI and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,353 a month against $2,666 in Traverse City, MI, rent and utilities included – about $15,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Traverse City, MI
🇺🇸 United States
$2,666
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,353
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Traverse City, MI and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Traverse City, MI and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,666 in Traverse City, MI versus $1,353 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Traverse City, MI $2,666
  • Ubud, Bali $1,353

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,947 in Traverse City, MI versus $2,297 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Traverse City, MI $3,947
  • Ubud, Bali $2,297

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,228 in Traverse City, MI versus $3,241 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Traverse City, MI $5,228
  • Ubud, Bali $3,241

Living in Traverse City, MI is roughly 97% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Traverse City, MI 97% above, Ubud, Bali 0% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Traverse City, MI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.49 $21.49
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
565.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.4 $77.4
$34.88 Rp 627.8K
121.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.34 $11.34
$5.70 Rp 102.5K
98.95%
Cappuccino
$4.78 $4.78
$2.62 Rp 47.1K
82.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
44.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 $2.08
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
156.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.90 $4.90
$2.65 Rp 47.7K
84.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.53 $6.53
$4.37 Rp 78.6K
49.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Traverse City, MI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.73 $0.73
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
-53.50%
White Bread (500g)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.19 Rp 39.5K
40.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.36 $4.36
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
269.49%
Eggs
$2.67 $2.67
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
23.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.14 $19.14
$17.65 Rp 317.7K
8.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.34 $12.34
$3.78 Rp 68.0K
226.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.33 $22.33
$11.95 Rp 215.1K
86.86%
Apples (1kg)
$6.84 $6.84
$3.60 Rp 64.8K
90.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
-9.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.84 $3.84
$2.31 Rp 41.6K
66.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.69 $6.69
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
250.26%
Potato (1kg)
$2.70 $2.70
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
51.69%
Onion (1kg)
$3.15 $3.15
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
35.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.36 $2.36
$1.00 Rp 18.0K
136.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$0.53 Rp 9,509
398.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.96 $5.96
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
160.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.02 $15.02
$22.07 Rp 397.3K
-31.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 $2.00
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
-14.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.01 $7.01
$2.98 Rp 53.6K
135.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Traverse City, MI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$6.02 $6.02
$0.23 Rp 4,112
2517.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.60 $30.60
$8.90 Rp 160.2K
243.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$0.47 Rp 8,466
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.43 Rp 7,737
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.47 Rp 98.4K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
22.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K $35.0K
$23.9K Rp 429.8M
46.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$32.8K Rp 590.1M
-20.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Traverse City, MI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$116 $116
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
45.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.85 $37.85
$6.56 Rp 118.1K
476.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.8 $68.8
$18.60 Rp 334.8K
270.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Traverse City, MI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.7 $62.7
$54.1 Rp 974.1K
15.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.28 Rp 329.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.81 $9.81
$4.25 Rp 76.5K
130.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Traverse City, MI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,017 $1,017
$493 Rp 8.9M
106.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K $11.3K
$5,597 Rp 100.7M
101.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Traverse City, MI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.2 $58.2
$45.58 Rp 820.4K
27.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.93 $40.93
$34.96 Rp 629.4K
17.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
29.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.4 $87.4
$78.5 Rp 1.4M
11.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Traverse City, MI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,958 $1,958
$1,131 Rp 20.4M
73.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,404 $1,404
$673 Rp 12.1M
108.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,796 $3,796
$3,613 Rp 65.0M
5.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,317 $2,317
$1,702 Rp 30.6M
36.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,395 $3,395
$2,717 Rp 48.9M
24.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,324 $3,324
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
48.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Traverse City, MI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,796 $2,796
$166 Rp 3.0M
1580.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.32
13.78
-54.14%

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

Last update for Traverse City, MI: October 20, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Traverse City, MI
$1.4K
Ubud, Bali
$673 52.1% $731
Groceries & Markets
Traverse City, MI
$453
Ubud, Bali
$287 36.7% $166
Eating Out
Traverse City, MI
$319
Ubud, Bali
$106 66.7% $213
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Traverse City, MI
$223
Ubud, Bali
$105 52.8% $118
Clothing & Footwear
Traverse City, MI
$129
Ubud, Bali
$107 17.5% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Traverse City, MI
$82
Ubud, Bali
$63 23.9% $20
Getting Around
Traverse City, MI
$55 *
Ubud, Bali
$12 77.3% $42

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,958 in Traverse City, MI and $1,131 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Traverse City, MI pays 1580% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $77.0 in Traverse City, MI vs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $453 vs $287 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Traverse City, MI
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
10:28 10:28 AM
22:28 10:28 PM
12 h ahead of Traverse City, MI
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,678
74,800
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Traverse City, MI Ubud, Bali 15,510 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Traverse City, MI
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Traverse City, MI vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Traverse City, MI or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 97% lower than in Traverse City, MI. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Traverse City, MI or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 1580% higher in Traverse City, MI, 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 Traverse City, MI compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,958 in Traverse City, MI versus $1,131 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Traverse City, MI or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 58% higher in Traverse City, MI. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Traverse City, MI and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $77.0 in Traverse City, MI. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Traverse City, MI or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,353 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,666 in Traverse City, MI, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Traverse City, MI. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Traverse City, MI or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,353 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Traverse City, MI compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Traverse City, MI 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 Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 97% less than in Traverse City, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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