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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $890 in Tulcán versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,299 in Tulcán versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,708 in Tulcán versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Tulcán costs roughly 37% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tulcán is 33% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tulcán
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 $4.55
$3.45 Rp 62.0K
31.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.22 $15.22
$32.34 Rp 580.1K
-52.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.06 $5.06
$4.84 Rp 86.9K
4.55%
Cappuccino
$1.53 $1.53
$2.75 Rp 49.3K
-44.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 $0.58
$1.38 Rp 24.8K
-57.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 $0.48
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
-36.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.99 Rp 53.7K
-31.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92 $3.92
$3.85 Rp 69.1K
1.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tulcán
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$1.74 Rp 31.1K
-55.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.53 $1.53
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
-37.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
-6.84%
Eggs
$1.83 $1.83
$2.43 Rp 43.6K
-24.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.41 $8.41
$14.50 Rp 260.2K
-42.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.72 $7.72
$4.35 Rp 78.0K
77.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.36 $8.36
$11.98 Rp 214.9K
-30.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.08 $2.08
$3.72 Rp 66.7K
-44.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.20 $1.20
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
-26.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.06 $1.06
$2.74 Rp 49.2K
-61.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.32 $1.32
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
-41.07%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.92 Rp 34.4K
-27.60%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 $1.10
$2.28 Rp 40.8K
-51.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
-23.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 $1.06
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
47.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.09 $6.09
$3.29 Rp 58.9K
85.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.68 $8.68
$23.19 Rp 416.1K
-62.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 $1.61
$2.78 Rp 49.8K
-42.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.73 Rp 49.0K
9.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Tulcán
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 $0.34
$0.27 Rp 4,778
25.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.56 $23.56
$8.11 Rp 145.4K
190.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.52 $1.52
$0.48 Rp 8,659
216.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.46 $1.46
$0.42 Rp 7,532
247.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.19 $10.19
$6.22 Rp 111.6K
63.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.66 $0.66
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
-18.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6K $19.6K
$26.6K Rp 477.4M
-26.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$32.2K Rp 577.4M
-21.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tulcán
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$33.97 $33.97
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-56.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.43 $14.43
$4.07 Rp 73.0K
254.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.99 $28.99
$24.33 Rp 436.4K
19.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tulcán
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.34 $30.34
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-69.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.86 $14.86
$6.34 Rp 113.7K
134.38%
Cinema Ticket
$6.93 $6.93
$3.99 Rp 71.5K
73.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tulcán
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$79.7 $79.7
$305 Rp 5.5M
-73.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,552 $8,552
$6,642 Rp 119.2M
28.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tulcán
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.44 $29.44
$54.1 Rp 971.2K
-45.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.85 $43.85
$37.81 Rp 678.2K
15.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.8 $89.8
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
3.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8 $86.8
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
13.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tulcán
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$335 $335
$992 Rp 17.8M
-66.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$314 $314
$673 Rp 12.1M
-53.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$631 $631
$3,375 Rp 60.5M
-81.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$497 $497
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
-75.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,295 $1,295
$2,805 Rp 50.3M
-53.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$700 $700
$2,227 Rp 39.9M
-68.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tulcán
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$167 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.19
13.28
-15.74%

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

Last update for Tulcán: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $335 in Tulcán and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $15.00 in Tulcán vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $297 per month, with Tulcán 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
Tulcán vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tulcán and in Ubud, Bali?
Tulcán and Ubud, Bali differ by about 58% in total monthly costs ($890 vs $1,408 including rent). Tulcán is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Tulcán compared to Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $1,334 in Tulcán and $2,112 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Tulcán and in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $335 in Tulcán versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tulcán and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $79.7 in Tulcán versus $305 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $890 in Tulcán versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tulcán but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Tulcán the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tulcán and Ubud, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tulcán or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tulcán 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.
Where should expats move: Tulcán or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Tulcán gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% 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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