Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Abu Halifa Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Abu Halifa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,268 in Abu Halifa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,069 in Abu Halifa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,273 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,870 in Abu Halifa, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 10% more than Abu Halifa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 2% above the global median, while Abu Halifa is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.37 Rp 59.5K

$6.64 KWD 2.04

-49.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.59 Rp 680.3K

$27.85 KWD 8.55

38.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 Rp 97.3K

$8.07 KWD 2.48

-31.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.45 KWD 0.75

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 KWD 0.69

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 46.6K

$5.47 KWD 1.68

-51.74%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 Rp 29.5K

$0.72 KWD 0.22

131.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$0.37 KWD 0.11

108.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 Rp 46.4K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

$1.64 KWD 0.50

-5.49%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 Rp 39.2K

$1.01 KWD 0.31

119.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 Rp 19.8K

$1.89 KWD 0.58

-40.21%

Eggs

$2.09 Rp 36.8K

$2.06 KWD 0.63

1.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 Rp 306.7K

$3.29 KWD 1.01

428.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 Rp 68.2K

$6.53 KWD 2.00

-40.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.55 Rp 221.3K

$9.94 KWD 3.05

26.26%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.8K

$2.50 KWD 0.77

44.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.5K

$1.94 KWD 0.60

-19.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 Rp 41.5K

$0.99 KWD 0.30

137.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 Rp 36.2K

$0.63 KWD 0.19

226.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 33.5K

$0.99 KWD 0.30

91.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$0.64 KWD 0.20

265.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

$1.58 KWD 0.48

-34.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,780

$0.59 KWD 0.18

-6.78%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.27 KWD 1.00

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 KWD 0.45

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 39.7K

$2.69 KWD 0.83

-16.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 419.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 Rp 40.8K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 Rp 49.4K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,802

$0.83 KWD 0.25

-67.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 152.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,489

$4.75 KWD 1.46

-89.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,864

$3.32 KWD 1.02

-86.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.72 Rp 100.8K

$16.30 KWD 5.00

-64.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

$0.36 KWD 0.11

111.11%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.5K Rp 431.7M

$20.9K KWD 6,406

17.29%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.1K Rp 566.3M

$20.1K KWD 6,174

59.66%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

$65.1 KWD 19.99

28.26%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.46 Rp 113.8K

$16.29 KWD 5.00

-60.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.99 Rp 334.9K

$16.28 KWD 5.00

16.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 Rp 986.9K

$98.6 KWD 30.25

-43.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 328.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

$11.40 KWD 3.50

-62.46%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$487 Rp 8.6M

$305 KWD 93.5

59.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,856 Rp 103.2M

$5,067 KWD 1,555

15.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.56 Rp 803.2K

$37.55 KWD 11.53

21.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.38 Rp 641.4K

$39.06 KWD 11.99

-6.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

$99.9 KWD 30.67

-17.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$87.7 KWD 26.90

-8.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

$725 KWD 223

53.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 Rp 12.4M

$585 KWD 179

19.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,537 Rp 62.4M

$1,811 KWD 556

95.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,762 Rp 31.1M

$1,361 KWD 418

29.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 49.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 Rp 3.0M

$5,230 KWD 1,605

-96.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

6.53

111.03%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for Abu Halifa: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $725 in Abu Halifa. 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 2980% higher in Abu Halifa, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $28.00 in Abu Halifa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $163 – making Abu Halifa 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 Abu Halifa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,095 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,902 in Abu Halifa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Abu Halifa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali and $28.00 in Abu Halifa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 79% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Abu Halifa, where all-in costs run around $1,268, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Abu Halifa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Abu Halifa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Abu Halifa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.