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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $999 in Apia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,575 in Apia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,152 in Apia.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 42% more expensive than Apia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Apia is 25% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Apia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 64.8K
$52.6 WST 144
-93.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 594.6K
$35.09 WST 96.3
-6.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 89.9K
$13.93 WST 38.23
-64.47%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 49.3K
$2.50 WST 6.85
8.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.4K
$2.09 WST 5.74
-35.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.7K
$1.25 WST 3.44
-44.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 53.0K
$4.39 WST 12.04
-33.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 71.9K
$3.56 WST 9.78
11.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Apia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.8K
$1.75 WST 4.79
3.43%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.7K
$0.78 WST 2.14
223.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 21.0K
$1.75 WST 4.80
-33.71%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 44.7K
$4.15 WST 11.38
-40.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 267.3K
$0.85 WST 2.32
1630.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 78.4K
$3.59 WST 9.86
20.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 220.5K
$8.25 WST 22.64
47.15%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 69.8K
$5.07 WST 13.91
-24.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 28.3K
$1.76 WST 4.83
-11.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 51.5K
$1.81 WST 4.97
56.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 42.2K
$4.31 WST 11.82
-45.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.8K
$3.52 WST 9.67
-45.74%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 40.0K
$1.06 WST 2.90
107.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.4K
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 14.1K
$1.15 WST 3.16
-32.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 60.2K
$6.14 WST 16.85
-45.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 431.2K
$16.12 WST 44.23
47.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 50.7K
$1.76 WST 4.84
58.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 52.0K
$3.61 WST 9.90
-20.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Apia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,883
$3.51 WST 9.63
-92.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 145.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,291
$5.27 WST 14.46
-91.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,176
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 110.7K
$21.63 WST 59.4
-71.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.4K
$1.06 WST 2.91
-25.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 475.0M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 583.5M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Apia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.5M
$17.78 WST 48.78
349.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 73.8K
$17.72 WST 48.63
-77.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 427.3K
$36.31 WST 99.6
-35.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Apia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 120.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 75.3K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Apia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.5M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 120.1M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Apia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 1.0M
$50.2 WST 138
10.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 695.9K
$40.75 WST 112
-5.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$74.0 WST 203
19.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$102 WST 279
-23.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Apia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 62.5M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 37.0M
$1,849 WST 5,073
10.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 51.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 41.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Apia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
0
-

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Apia: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $35.00 in Apia. Groceries flip the comparison at $302 vs $234, 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 42% 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 vs Apia?
You'd need roughly $2,129 in Ubud, Bali and $1,498 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 $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $999 in Apia – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or Apia?
Supermarket bills run roughly 29% 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 Apia?
At $999 in Apia versus $1,419 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 $999 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 42% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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