Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Aarau

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,349 a month against $2,813 in Aarau, rent and utilities included – about $17,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Aarau, Switzerland
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Aarau
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$2,813
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Aarau

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

A single person spends $1,349 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,813 in Aarau, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,349
  • Aarau $2,813

A couple spends around $2,305 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,613 in Aarau, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,305
  • Aarau $4,613

A family of three spends $3,261 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $6,413 in Aarau, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,261
  • Aarau $6,413

Ubud, Bali is about 52% cheaper than Aarau, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Aarau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 60.3K
$29.72 CHF 24.51
-88.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.64 Rp 646.5K
$107 CHF 88.6
-66.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 Rp 100.4K
$18.33 CHF 15.12
-69.83%
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.3K
$5.90 CHF 4.87
-53.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
$5.27 CHF 4.35
-67.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
$4.80 CHF 3.96
-84.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 48.1K
$5.95 CHF 4.91
-55.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 Rp 79.5K
$6.48 CHF 5.35
-32.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Aarau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 27.0K
$2.07 CHF 1.71
-28.02%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 Rp 41.3K
$3.59 CHF 2.96
-36.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$2.67 CHF 2.20
-55.43%
Eggs
$2.04 Rp 36.9K
$7.06 CHF 5.82
-71.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.70 Rp 321.1K
$31.59 CHF 26.06
-43.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 71.9K
$29.34 CHF 24.20
-86.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 Rp 221.1K
$41.32 CHF 34.08
-70.50%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 66.3K
$2.86 CHF 2.36
27.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.5K
$1.70 CHF 1.40
-10.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
$2.41 CHF 1.99
-7.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
$5.75 CHF 4.74
-65.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.5K
$1.70 CHF 1.40
8.82%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 44.0K
$1.94 CHF 1.60
24.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
$2.29 CHF 1.89
-56.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,313
$1.11 CHF 0.91
-54.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 40.3K
$10.84 CHF 8.94
-79.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 403.4K
$10.46 CHF 8.62
112.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 41.0K
$2.56 CHF 2.11
-11.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
$2.88 CHF 2.37
3.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Aarau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,553
$4.95 CHF 4.08
-94.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.82 Rp 141.9K
$147 CHF 122
-94.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,972
$4.51 CHF 3.72
-90.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,801
$2.87 CHF 2.37
-85.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 Rp 98.1K
$60.8 CHF 50.2
-91.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
$2.19 CHF 1.81
-62.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 432.4M
$38.6K CHF 31.8K
-38.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 575.9M
$38.6K CHF 31.9K
-17.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Aarau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$121 CHF 99.6
-34.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.9K
$28.73 CHF 23.69
-77.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.58 Rp 337.0K
$57.3 CHF 47.25
-67.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Aarau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 Rp 897.5K
$97.2 CHF 80.1
-49.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 Rp 320.1K
$61.5 CHF 50.7
-71.30%
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 Rp 77.5K
$21.92 CHF 18.08
-80.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Aarau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.9M
$3,172 CHF 2,616
-84.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,674 Rp 102.9M
$24.4K CHF 20.2K
-76.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Aarau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64 Rp 809.7K
$90.1 CHF 74.3
-50.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 Rp 634.0K
$71.5 CHF 59.0
-51.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$109 CHF 89.8
-26.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$168 CHF 138
-52.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Aarau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
$1,263 CHF 1,041
-10.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 12.2M
$1,041 CHF 859
-35.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,565 Rp 64.7M
$2,272 CHF 1,874
56.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
$2,155 CHF 1,777
-20.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,732 Rp 49.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 Rp 41.4M
$12.1K CHF 10.0K
-81.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Aarau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$6,963 CHF 5,743
-97.65%
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: October 25, 2026

Last update for Aarau: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$672
Aarau
$1K 55% $369
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$288
Aarau
$595 106% $306
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Aarau
$447 315% $339
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Aarau
$197 83.4% $90
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$104
Aarau
$207 98.6% $103
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$58
Aarau
$141 143% $83
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Aarau
$186 1529% $175

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,125 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,263 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 in Aarau are about 43 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36 in Ubud, Bali versus $107 in Aarau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $595 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇨🇭 Aarau
🕒 Local time
08:26 8:26 AM
01:26 1:26 AM
7 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
21,191
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CHF, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18,138 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,252 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.825 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.921 CHF (1 CHF = 1.09 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Aarau 12,000 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Aarau

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
Ubud, Bali vs Aarau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Aarau?
Aarau costs about 109% more than Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 $2,023 per month in Ubud, Bali and $4,220 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,125 there versus $1,263 in Aarau.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali compared to Aarau?
Public transport costs about 95% 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 $491 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,172 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?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,349 in Ubud, Bali and $2,813 in Aarau. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Aarau?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Ubud, Bali or to Aarau?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries 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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