Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Al Ain Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Al Ain

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,577 in Al Ain, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,419 in Al Ain, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,262 in Al Ain, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 11% cheaper than Al Ain, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Ubud, Bali and Al Ain sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 5%, Al Ain by 18%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Al Ain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
$6.69 AED 24.57
-48.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
$68.4 AED 251
-52.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
$8.26 AED 30.35
-41.40%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
$4.83 AED 17.74
-43.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
$0.79 AED 2.90
74.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$0.37 AED 1.37
102.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
$8.23 AED 30.23
-63.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
$10.78 AED 39.58
-64.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Al Ain
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
$1.78 AED 6.55
-2.25%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
$1.53 AED 5.63
60.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$2.45 AED 9.00
-52.24%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
$3.24 AED 11.89
-25.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
$2.80 AED 10.27
417.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
$8.83 AED 32.42
-50.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
$6.99 AED 25.66
71.39%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
$2.40 AED 8.82
55.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$1.68 AED 6.15
-2.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
$1.35 AED 4.96
102.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$0.78 AED 2.87
187.18%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
$0.71 AED 2.60
170.42%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
$0.43 AED 1.56
430.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$1.64 AED 6.03
-35.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$0.63 AED 2.31
14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
$6.10 AED 22.41
-46.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
$12.04 AED 44.22
92.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$1.34 AED 4.94
107.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$2.14 AED 7.87
27.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Al Ain
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,786
$1.11 AED 4.09
-75.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
$24.95 AED 91.6
-67.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,675
$2.77 AED 10.17
-82.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,545
$0.52 AED 1.92
-19.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
$8.27 AED 30.36
-24.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$0.74 AED 2.70
9.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
$44.5K AED 163.4K
-40.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
$22.3K AED 82.0K
44.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Al Ain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$92.4 AED 339
-15.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
$51.5 AED 189
-92.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
$96.5 AED 354
-74.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Al Ain
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
$53.5 AED 196
84.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
$40.74 AED 150
-84.44%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
$11.28 AED 41.41
-64.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Al Ain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
$628 AED 2,305
-51.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
$3,762 AED 13.8K
76.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Al Ain
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
$21.92 AED 80.5
146.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
$57.3 AED 210
-34.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
$78.6 AED 289
10.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
$53.9 AED 198
41.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Al Ain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
$675 AED 2,478
46.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$736 AED 2,705
-8.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
$4,961 AED 18.2K
-31.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
$1,228 AED 4,511
66.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
$2,424 AED 8,903
15.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
$1,189 AED 4,368
87.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Al Ain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 3.0M
$2,729 AED 10.0K
-93.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
5.19
155.88%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Al Ain: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $675 in Al Ain. 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 1534% higher in Al Ain, 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $68.0 in Al Ain. Groceries tell a different story – $297 in Ubud, Bali vs $213 in Al Ain – so Al Ain 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 Al Ain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Al Ain?
Al Ain costs about 12% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 Al Ain?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $2,365 in Al Ain. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Al Ain?
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 do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Al Ain?
Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Ubud, Bali and $628 in Al Ain. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Al Ain?
Interestingly, groceries are about 39% cheaper in Al Ain – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Al Ain?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,408, than in Al Ain at $1,577. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Al Ain it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Al Ain?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,408 versus $1,577 in Al Ain. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Al Ain?
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 Al Ain?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Al Ain makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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