Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Ankeny, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Ankeny, IA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,013 in Ankeny, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,887 in Ankeny, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,760 in Ankeny, IA.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 30% less than in Ankeny, IA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 5% above, Ankeny, IA 51% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Ankeny, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
$14.70 $14.70
-76.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
$57.2 $57.2
-43.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
$12.22 $12.22
-60.39%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
$5.97 $5.97
-53.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
$2.69 $2.69
-48.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$1.52 $1.52
-50.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
$5.05 $5.05
-40.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
$6.92 $6.92
-44.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Ankeny, IA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
$0.96 $0.96
81.25%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
$2.44 $2.44
0.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$2.14 $2.14
-45.33%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
$3.72 $3.72
-34.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
$10.69 $10.69
35.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
$10.91 $10.91
-60.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
$14.63 $14.63
-18.11%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
$4.38 $4.38
-15.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$1.93 $1.93
-15.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
$4.59 $4.59
-40.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$4.53 $4.53
-50.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
$3.43 $3.43
-44.02%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
$3.38 $3.38
-32.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$1.02 $1.02
3.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$0.72 $0.72
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
$9.09 $9.09
-63.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
$15.23 $15.23
52.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$1.77 $1.77
57.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$3.37 $3.37
-18.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Ankeny, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,786
$1.96 $1.96
-86.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,675
$1.99 $1.99
-75.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,545
$2.22 $2.22
-81.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
$20.36 $20.36
-69.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$0.83 $0.83
-2.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
$25.5K $25.5K
4.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
$24.8K $24.8K
29.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Ankeny, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$147 $147
-46.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
$49.76 $49.76
-91.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
$64.3 $64.3
-62.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Ankeny, IA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
$42.48 $42.48
132.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
$15.24 $15.24
-73.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Ankeny, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
$1,117 $1,117
-72.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
$11.9K $11.9K
-44.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Ankeny, IA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
$49.57 $49.57
9.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
$35.52 $35.52
6.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
$84.1 $84.1
3.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
$94.4 $94.4
-19.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Ankeny, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
$932 $932
6.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$917 $917
-26.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
$1,889 $1,889
78.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
$1,377 $1,377
48.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Ankeny, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 3.0M
$5,265 $5,265
-96.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6.54
103.06%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Ankeny, IA: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $932 in Ankeny, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ankeny, IA pays 3054% 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: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $57.0 in Ankeny, IA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $338 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

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 Ankeny, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Ankeny, IA?
Ubud, Bali and Ankeny, IA differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($1,408 vs $2,013 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 3054% lower in Ankeny, IA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Ankeny, IA?
Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $932 in Ankeny, IA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Ankeny, IA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Ankeny, IA?
All in, you'll spend $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,013 in Ankeny, IA – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,013 in Ankeny, IA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Ankeny, IA. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Ankeny, IA?
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.
Is Ubud, Bali or Ankeny, IA safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Ankeny, IA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Ankeny, IA?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Ankeny, IA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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