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