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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,394 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,156 in Aalst.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,551 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,151 in Aalst.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,708 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,146 in Aalst.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 35% less than in Aalst, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 5% above, Aalst 62% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Aalst
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.40 Rp 60.2K
$23.39 €20.14
-85.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.38 Rp 573.6K
$104 €89.2
-68.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.00 Rp 88.6K
$12.81 €11.03
-60.97%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 50.0K
$4.17 €3.59
-32.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.4K
$3.48 €3.00
-60.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.0K
$2.93 €2.52
-75.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.98 Rp 52.8K
$5.47 €4.71
-45.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97 Rp 70.3K
$4.68 €4.03
-15.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Aalst
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 Rp 31.8K
$1.33 €1.15
34.59%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 43.7K
$2.88 €2.48
-14.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.2K
$2.76 €2.38
-56.52%
Eggs
$2.39 Rp 42.3K
$4.17 €3.59
-42.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.40 Rp 255.1K
$16.44 €14.16
-12.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.28 Rp 75.9K
$11.93 €10.27
-64.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.82 Rp 209.4K
$19.01 €16.37
-37.82%
Apples (1kg)
$3.78 Rp 67.0K
$2.89 €2.48
30.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 28.9K
$2.42 €2.08
-32.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.80 Rp 49.6K
$2.27 €1.95
23.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 Rp 40.0K
$3.28 €2.82
-31.10%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 Rp 35.3K
$2.58 €2.22
-22.48%
Onion (1kg)
$2.21 Rp 39.2K
$2.37 €2.04
-6.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 Rp 18.9K
$1.42 €1.22
-24.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.5K
$0.86 €0.74
-11.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 55.4K
$12.58 €10.83
-75.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.81 Rp 421.9K
$9.37 €8.07
154.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 Rp 50.3K
$1.71 €1.47
66.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.2K
$2.03 €1.75
36.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Aalst
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,726
$2.97 €2.55
-90.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.37 Rp 148.2K
$56.2 €48.39
-85.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,034
$5.96 €5.13
-92.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,578
$2.45 €2.11
-82.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.98 Rp 105.9K
$34.87 €30.03
-82.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
$1.87 €1.61
-57.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8K Rp 457.2M
$35.1K €30.3K
-26.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8K Rp 563.4M
$32.8K €28.3K
-3.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Aalst
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
$204 €176
-60.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.14 Rp 73.3K
$21.67 €18.66
-80.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.12 Rp 427.2K
$56.8 €48.88
-57.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Aalst
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.8 Rp 1.7M
$39.16 €33.72
149.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.64 Rp 117.7K
$17.20 €14.81
-61.40%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 71.5K
$15.13 €13.03
-73.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Aalst
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.3M
$611 €526
-51.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,590 Rp 116.7M
$13.4K €11.5K
-50.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Aalst
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 Rp 976.8K
$105 €90.8
-47.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.51 Rp 682.1K
$48.75 €41.98
-21.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$117 €100
-26.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.0 Rp 1.4M
$154 €133
-49.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Aalst
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$985 Rp 17.5M
$970 €835
1.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 Rp 11.8M
$869 €748
-23.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,446 Rp 61.0M
$1,380 €1,188
149.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,042 Rp 36.2M
$1,086 €935
88.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,829 Rp 50.1M
$3,210 €2,764
-11.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,282 Rp 40.4M
$3,035 €2,613
-24.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Aalst
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$169 Rp 3.0M
$2,701 €2,325
-93.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
3.27
306.12%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026

Last update for Aalst: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $985 in Ubud, Bali and $970 in Aalst. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aalst pays 1496% 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: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $104 in Aalst for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $299 vs $350 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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
Ubud, Bali vs Aalst: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and Aalst?
Ubud, Bali and Aalst differ by about 55% in total monthly costs ($1,394 vs $2,156 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Aalst earns 1496% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and Aalst?
Rent for a central apartment: $985 in Ubud, Bali versus $970 in Aalst. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $104 in Aalst. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Aalst?
All in, you'll spend $1,394 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,156 in Aalst – a 55% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,394 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,156 in Aalst, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Aalst. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Aalst?
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 Ubud, Bali or Aalst safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Aalst 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: Ubud, Bali or Aalst?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Aalst. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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