😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $850 in Apia.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,339 in Apia.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,275 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,828 in Apia.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 62% more expensive than in Apia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Apia is 38% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Apia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33Rp 58.7K
$46.91WST 128
-92.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.82Rp 630.7K
$37.30WST 102
-3.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.63Rp 99.1K
$14.68WST 40.11
-61.65%
Cappuccino
$2.82Rp 49.7K
$2.96WST 8.09
-4.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75Rp 30.8K
$1.85WST 5.05
-5.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80Rp 14.0K
$1.40WST 3.81
-42.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.04Rp 53.6K
$3.55WST 9.71
-14.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30Rp 75.7K
$3.56WST 9.73
20.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Apia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61Rp 28.3K
$1.78WST 4.86
-9.55%
White Bread(500g)
$2.27Rp 39.9K
$0.81WST 2.21
180.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17Rp 20.6K
$1.87WST 5.11
-37.43%
Eggs
$2.17Rp 38.2K
$4.39WST 12.01
-50.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.63Rp 310.5K
$0.88WST 2.42
1903.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.05Rp 71.4K
$3.76WST 10.27
7.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.18Rp 214.5K
$8.20WST 22.42
48.54%
Apples(1kg)
$3.62Rp 63.7K
$5.05WST 13.80
-28.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64Rp 28.8K
$1.85WST 5.07
-11.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31Rp 40.6K
$1.79WST 4.90
29.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96Rp 34.5K
$4.51WST 12.33
-56.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84Rp 32.5K
$3.76WST 10.27
-51.06%
Onion(1kg)
$2.37Rp 41.7K
$1.12WST 3.06
111.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05Rp 18.5K
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54Rp 9,560
$1.23WST 3.37
-56.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30Rp 40.6K
$6.14WST 16.78
-62.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.08Rp 406.4K
$16.43WST 44.92
40.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34Rp 41.2K
$1.79WST 4.89
30.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07Rp 54.0K
$3.59WST 9.82
-14.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Apia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25Rp 4,365
$3.76WST 10.28
-93.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.42Rp 165.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.49Rp 8,631
$5.64WST 15.43
-91.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.47Rp 8,349
$5.45WST 14.91
-91.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.60Rp 98.6K
$21.64WST 59.1
-74.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.2K
$1.11WST 3.04
-27.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KRp 440.3M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1KRp 547.0M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Apia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.7Rp 1.5M
$17.98WST 49.15
360.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49Rp 114.2K
$18.52WST 50.6
-64.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.79Rp 330.8K
$37.30WST 102
-49.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Apia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.2Rp 972.6K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.21Rp 320.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.30Rp 75.7K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Apia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$494Rp 8.7M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,917Rp 104.2M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Apia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.28Rp 814.8K
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.44Rp 641.6K
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.7Rp 1.4M
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8Rp 1.4M
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Apia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,114Rp 19.6M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$693Rp 12.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,639Rp 64.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,712Rp 30.1M
$1,823WST 4,984
-6.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,761Rp 48.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,293Rp 40.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Apia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167Rp 2.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026
Last update for Apia: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $37.00 in Apia. Groceries flip the comparison at $294 vs $240, with Apia cheaper for home cooking.
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 Apia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Apia?
Apia wins on cost – living expenses run 62% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Apia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Apia?
You'd need roughly $2,067 in Ubud, Bali and $1,275 in Apia to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Apia?
All in, you'll spend $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $850 in Apia – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Apia?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Apia?
At $850 in Apia versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Apia but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Apia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Apia?
Both work as nomad bases, but Apia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $850 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Apia hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Apia?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Apia are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Apia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared