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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,394 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,873 in Akureyri, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,551 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,846 in Akureyri, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,708 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,818 in Akureyri, rent included.

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

Both Ubud, Bali and Akureyri sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 5%, Akureyri by 116%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 Rp 60.6K

$24.15 ISK 3,001

-85.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.38 Rp 577.1K

$128 ISK 15.9K

-74.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.00 Rp 89.1K

$22.00 ISK 2,733

-77.27%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 50.3K

$4.99 ISK 620

-43.49%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.5K

$3.34 ISK 415

-58.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.0K

$2.95 ISK 367

-75.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 Rp 53.2K

$10.74 ISK 1,335

-72.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 Rp 70.8K

$9.42 ISK 1,171

-57.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 Rp 32.0K

$2.87 ISK 356

-37.63%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$2.31 ISK 287

6.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.4K

$3.10 ISK 385

-61.29%

Eggs

$2.39 Rp 42.6K

$8.23 ISK 1,023

-70.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 Rp 256.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.28 Rp 76.4K

$24.47 ISK 3,040

-82.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 Rp 210.6K

Apples (1kg)

$3.78 Rp 67.4K

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.1K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 Rp 49.9K

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 Rp 40.3K

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 Rp 35.6K

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 Rp 39.4K

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 Rp 19.1K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 Rp 13.6K

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 55.7K

$13.68 ISK 1,700

-77.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 424.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 Rp 50.6K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.5K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,755

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 149.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,082

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,624

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 Rp 106.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

$2.59 ISK 322

-69.11%

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

$25.8K Rp 459.9M

$40.7K ISK 5.1M

-36.65%

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

$31.8K Rp 566.8M

$63.9K ISK 7.9M

-50.26%

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

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$119 ISK 14.8K

-32.29%

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

$4.14 Rp 73.7K

$24.95 ISK 3,100

-83.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.12 Rp 429.8K

$161 ISK 20.0K

-85.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.8 Rp 1.7M

$84.5 ISK 10.5K

15.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.64 Rp 118.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 71.9K

$14.92 ISK 1,853

-72.92%

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

$297 Rp 5.3M

$360 ISK 44.7K

-17.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,590 Rp 117.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 Rp 982.6K

$80.1 ISK 9,954

-31.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.51 Rp 686.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$119 ISK 14.8K

-27.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.0 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 Rp 17.6M

$1,748 ISK 217.2K

-43.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$665 Rp 11.8M

$1,800 ISK 223.7K

-63.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,446 Rp 61.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,042 Rp 36.4M

$2,122 ISK 263.6K

-3.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,829 Rp 50.4M

$6,414 ISK 796.9K

-55.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,282 Rp 40.7M

$6,402 ISK 795.5K

-64.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

9.4

41.28%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026

Last update for Akureyri: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,748 in Akureyri. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $128 in Akureyri. Groceries tell a different story – $299 in Ubud, Bali vs $219 in Akureyri – so Akureyri wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Akureyri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Akureyri is pricier by about 106%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,091 per month in Ubud, Bali and $4,310 in Akureyri. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali and $128 in Akureyri. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 36% cheaper in Akureyri – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,394, than in Akureyri at $2,873. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Akureyri it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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