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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $669 in Ambato, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,002 in Ambato, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,334 in Ambato, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 112% more than Ambato, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Ambato is 50% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Ambato
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
$3.03 $3.03
17.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
$25.06 $25.06
30.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
$5.12 $5.12
-3.32%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
$2.49 $2.49
8.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
$0.78 $0.78
71.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$0.64 $0.64
9.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
$2.01 $2.01
45.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
$3.60 $3.60
10.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Ambato
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
$0.98 $0.98
84.69%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
$1.02 $1.02
147.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
$1.50 $1.50
-22.67%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
$1.98 $1.98
24.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
$3.05 $3.05
382.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
$2.93 $2.93
47.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
$4.11 $4.11
195.38%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
$0.97 $0.97
295.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
$1.02 $1.02
52.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
$1.02 $1.02
177.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
$1.01 $1.01
130.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
$1.02 $1.02
87.25%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
$0.98 $0.98
124.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
$0.50 $0.50
102.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
$1.03 $1.03
-24.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
$5.90 $5.90
-43.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
$8.93 $8.93
165.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
$1.50 $1.50
86.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
$3.04 $3.04
-5.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Ambato
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,800
$0.31 $0.31
-12.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
$24.02 $24.02
-66.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,150
$0.67 $0.67
-31.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,037
$0.99 $0.99
-54.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
$9.62 $9.62
-36.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$0.66 $0.66
19.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
$30.4K $30.4K
-14.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
$28.4K $28.4K
13.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Ambato
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$39.33 $39.33
103.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
$13.79 $13.79
-70.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
$30.26 $30.26
-22.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Ambato
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$29.61 $29.61
233.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
$14.84 $14.84
-55.32%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
$6.07 $6.07
-31.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Ambato
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$255 $255
19.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
$2,356 $2,356
180.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Ambato
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
$49.59 $49.59
12.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
$37.10 $37.10
3.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$88.5 $88.5
0.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$58.9 $58.9
32.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Ambato
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
$336 $336
199.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
$187 $187
261.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
$616 $616
458.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
$251 $251
711.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
$1,133 $1,133
150.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
$883 $883
156.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Ambato
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$668 $668
-75.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
8
66.00%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ambato: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $336 in Ambato. 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 305% higher in Ambato, 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $25.00 in Ambato. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $141 – making Ambato 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 Ambato: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Ambato?
Ubud, Bali costs about 112% more than Ambato, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 vs Ambato?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,004 in Ambato. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Ambato?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ambato, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali vs Ambato?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $25.00 in Ambato. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Ambato?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $669 in Ambato. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Ambato?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ambato, where all-in costs run around $669, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Ambato it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Ambato?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ambato costs $669 versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Ambato?
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 Ambato?
If budget matters most, go with Ambato. 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.

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