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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,810 in Aarau, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,602 in Aarau, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $6,394 in Aarau, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 51% cheaper than Aarau, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Aarau sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 0%, Aarau by 105%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Aarau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 Rp 60.9K
$29.46 CHF 24.31
-88.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.31 Rp 643.0K
$107 CHF 88.0
-65.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.71 Rp 101.0K
$18.30 CHF 15.11
-68.80%
Cappuccino
$2.67 Rp 47.3K
$5.82 CHF 4.80
-54.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
$5.26 CHF 4.34
-66.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 Rp 15.4K
$4.81 CHF 3.97
-81.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 Rp 52.3K
$5.98 CHF 4.93
-50.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 Rp 80.0K
$6.84 CHF 5.65
-33.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Aarau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
$2.08 CHF 1.71
-22.12%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
$3.74 CHF 3.08
-37.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
$2.70 CHF 2.23
-58.89%
Eggs
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
$7.50 CHF 6.19
-70.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.69 Rp 313.3K
$30.99 CHF 25.58
-42.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.10 Rp 72.5K
$29.82 CHF 24.62
-86.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 215.6K
$42.05 CHF 34.71
-71.03%
Apples (1kg)
$3.71 Rp 65.6K
$2.95 CHF 2.43
25.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.1K
$1.73 CHF 1.43
-8.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.4K
$2.43 CHF 2.01
-6.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.95 Rp 34.6K
$5.87 CHF 4.84
-66.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.7K
$1.74 CHF 1.44
9.77%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
$2.05 CHF 1.69
13.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
$2.20 CHF 1.81
-54.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,773
$1.19 CHF 0.98
-53.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 Rp 39.5K
$11.04 CHF 9.11
-79.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.07 Rp 408.6K
$10.49 CHF 8.66
119.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 Rp 42.8K
$2.60 CHF 2.15
-6.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 53.1K
$2.96 CHF 2.44
1.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Aarau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,814
$5.22 CHF 4.31
-94.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.98 Rp 159.1K
$148 CHF 122
-93.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,566
$7.18 CHF 5.92
-93.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,679
$3.45 CHF 2.85
-87.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.64 Rp 99.9K
$62.4 CHF 51.5
-90.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
$2.25 CHF 1.86
-64.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K Rp 441.7M
$42.6K CHF 35.2K
-41.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 561.5M
$39.2K CHF 32.4K
-19.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Aarau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
$124 CHF 102
-34.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 115.0K
$32.04 CHF 26.45
-79.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.77 Rp 332.4K
$57.7 CHF 47.58
-67.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Aarau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
$99.4 CHF 82.0
-42.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73 Rp 331.7K
$61.3 CHF 50.6
-69.46%
Cinema Ticket
$4.54 Rp 80.4K
$21.82 CHF 18.01
-79.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Aarau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$481 Rp 8.5M
$3,184 CHF 2,628
-84.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,711 Rp 101.1M
$25.3K CHF 20.9K
-77.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Aarau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.52 Rp 806.0K
$90.5 CHF 74.7
-49.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.88 Rp 635.4K
$74.8 CHF 61.7
-52.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$108 CHF 89.3
-25.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
$174 CHF 144
-54.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Aarau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,115 Rp 19.7M
$1,297 CHF 1,070
-14.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$698 Rp 12.4M
$1,060 CHF 875
-34.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,637 Rp 64.4M
$2,331 CHF 1,924
56.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
$2,114 CHF 1,745
-17.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 49.3M
$10.1K CHF 8,357
-72.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,290 Rp 40.5M
$12.3K CHF 10.1K
-81.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Aarau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$168 Rp 3.0M
$6,890 CHF 5,687
-97.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
2.31
496.54%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Aarau: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,297 in Aarau. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 4001% higher in Aarau, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $107 in Aarau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $604 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Aarau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Aarau?
Aarau costs about 105% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Aarau?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $4,215 in Aarau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Aarau?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali compared to Aarau?
Public transport costs about 1550% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Aarau?
Kindergarten costs $481 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,184 in Aarau. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Aarau?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,368, than in Aarau at $2,810. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Aarau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Aarau?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,368 versus $2,810 in Aarau. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Aarau?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Ubud, Bali or to Aarau?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aarau makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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