Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Ambon

For one person, living is cheaper in Ambon: $588 a month against $1,331 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $8,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Ambon, Indonesia
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,331
/mo nomad
Ambon
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$588
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Ambon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,331 in Ubud, Bali versus $588 in Ambon.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,331
  • Ambon $588

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Ubud, Bali versus $995 in Ambon.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,255
  • Ambon $995

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,180 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,401 in Ambon.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,180
  • Ambon $1,401

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 126% more expensive than in Ambon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ubud, Bali 2% lower, Ambon 56% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.38 Rp 61.0K
$1.11 Rp 20.1K
204.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.65 Rp 626.3K
$14.28 Rp 258.0K
142.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.57 Rp 100.7K
$3.83 Rp 69.2K
45.43%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.3K
$1.49 Rp 26.9K
75.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 Rp 27.8K
$0.46 Rp 8,342
234.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 Rp 11.6K
$0.28 Rp 4,980
128.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.67 Rp 48.2K
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
19.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 Rp 77.1K
$3.46 Rp 62.6K
23.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 Rp 26.4K
$1.03 Rp 18.7K
41.75%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 Rp 41.4K
$0.98 Rp 17.6K
133.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 20.0K
$0.79 Rp 14.3K
40.51%
Eggs
$2.10 Rp 38.0K
$1.37 Rp 24.7K
53.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 Rp 288.1K
$7.18 Rp 129.7K
122.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 Rp 70.2K
$2.85 Rp 51.5K
36.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.40 Rp 206.1K
$7.47 Rp 135.0K
52.61%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 64.2K
$2.18 Rp 39.4K
62.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 27.8K
$1.31 Rp 23.6K
17.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.3K
$1.60 Rp 28.8K
39.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.6K
$1.24 Rp 22.4K
58.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 Rp 33.6K
$1.28 Rp 23.1K
45.31%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 43.7K
$1.90 Rp 34.4K
27.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.5K
$0.80 Rp 14.4K
27.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,441
$0.40 Rp 7,176
30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.20 Rp 39.7K
$2.19 Rp 39.6K
0.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.79 Rp 393.8K
$20.54 Rp 371.3K
6.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 Rp 42.0K
$1.81 Rp 32.7K
28.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.7K
$2.92 Rp 52.8K
1.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Ambon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,526
$0.25 Rp 4,538
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 147.8K
$11.45 Rp 206.9K
-28.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,912
$0.50 Rp 9,119
-12.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,458
$0.29 Rp 5,330
62.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 101.2K
$2.71 Rp 48.9K
106.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$0.80 Rp 14.4K
3.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K Rp 441.9M
$23.7K Rp 428.4M
3.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 572.9M
$35.6K Rp 642.8M
-10.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
$55.9 Rp 1.0M
38.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.14 Rp 111.1K
$5.62 Rp 101.6K
9.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.92 Rp 341.9K
$19.16 Rp 346.3K
-1.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 Rp 921.7K
$18.90 Rp 341.5K
169.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.25 Rp 329.8K
$7.07 Rp 127.7K
158.13%
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 79.2K
$1.41 Rp 25.5K
210.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$492 Rp 8.9M
$94.9 Rp 1.7M
418.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K Rp 220.9M
$8,975 Rp 162.2M
36.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.16 Rp 816.3K
$43.58 Rp 787.6K
3.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.89 Rp 630.6K
$27.84 Rp 503.2K
25.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
$75.7 Rp 1.4M
3.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$70.6 Rp 1.3M
10.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Ambon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 Rp 19.5M
$211 Rp 3.8M
410.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 Rp 12.0M
$124 Rp 2.2M
434.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,510 Rp 63.4M
$612 Rp 11.1M
473.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,671 Rp 30.2M
$420 Rp 7.6M
297.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,340 Rp 42.3M
$1,295 Rp 23.4M
80.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,236 Rp 40.4M
$756 Rp 13.7M
195.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$121 Rp 2.2M
37.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
9.45
45.82%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: November 1, 2026

Last update for Ambon: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$665
Ambon
$124 81.3% $541
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$279
Ambon
$190 32.1% $90
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$106
Ambon
$98 7.8% $8.3
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Ambon
$59 43.9% $46
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$103
Ambon
$81 21.3% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$60
Ambon
$22 63.7% $38
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Ambon
$14 20.8% $2.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,078 in Ubud, Bali and $211 in Ambon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ubud, Bali pays 37% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $35 in Ubud, Bali vs $14 in Ambon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $279 vs $190 per month, with Ambon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Ambon
🕒 Local time
22:56 10:56 PM
23:56 11:56 PM
1 h ahead of Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
275,888
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 18,075 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.53 USD). 1 EUR = 20,311 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.92 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Ambon 1,520 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Ambon

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 Ambon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Ambon?
Ambon wins on cost – living expenses run 56% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Ambon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Ambon?
Average pay runs 37% higher in Ubud, Bali, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Ambon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,078 in Ubud, Bali versus $211 in Ambon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Ambon?
All in, you’ll spend $1,331 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $588 in Ambon – Ambon is about 56% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali compared to Ambon?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 29% less than in Ambon. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Can you live on $800/month in Ubud, Bali or in Ambon?
At $588 in Ambon versus $1,331 in Ubud, Bali, a $800 budget is realistic in Ambon but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Ambon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ubud, Bali or Ambon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Ambon?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Ambon are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Should I move to Ubud, Bali or to Ambon?
It comes down to priorities – Ambon wins on affordability, Ubud, Bali on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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