Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Ar-rustaq Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Ar-rustaq

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $950 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,323 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,696 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 51% more than Ar-rustaq, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Ar-rustaq is 29% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Ar-rustaq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
$5.05 OMR 1.94
-29.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
$25.79 OMR 9.91
26.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
$7.58 OMR 2.91
-33.11%
Cappuccino
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
$4.85 OMR 1.86
-41.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
$0.51 OMR 0.19
162.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
$0.25 OMR 0.10
176.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
$12.39 OMR 4.76
-75.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
$11.75 OMR 4.51
-67.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Ar-rustaq
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
$1.93 OMR 0.74
-9.84%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
$1.18 OMR 0.45
115.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
$1.68 OMR 0.64
-29.17%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
$1.85 OMR 0.71
31.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
$3.87 OMR 1.48
278.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
$4.11 OMR 1.58
1.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
$8.03 OMR 3.08
48.69%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
$2.29 OMR 0.88
61.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
$1.74 OMR 0.67
-7.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
$1.78 OMR 0.68
51.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
$1.16 OMR 0.45
100.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
$1.03 OMR 0.39
85.44%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
$0.98 OMR 0.37
123.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
$1.09 OMR 0.42
-2.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
$0.55 OMR 0.21
30.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
$6.19 OMR 2.38
-49.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
$15.45 OMR 5.93
52.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
$4.18 OMR 1.61
-34.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
$7.72 OMR 2.97
-62.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Ar-rustaq
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,029
$1.27 OMR 0.49
-77.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,863
$1.58 OMR 0.61
-71.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,305
$0.75 OMR 0.29
-44.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
$10.51 OMR 4.03
-41.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
$0.64 OMR 0.24
31.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
$22.8K OMR 8,737
15.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
$21.7K OMR 8,331
49.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Ar-rustaq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$105 OMR 40.44
-25.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
$41.62 OMR 15.98
-90.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
$68.8 OMR 26.41
-64.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Ar-rustaq
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
$2.66 OMR 1.02
138.72%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
$10.51 OMR 4.04
-61.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Ar-rustaq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.2M
$128 OMR 49.23
136.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
$3,695 OMR 1,419
76.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Ar-rustaq
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
$20.95 OMR 8.05
156.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
$26.33 OMR 10.11
44.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
$39.52 OMR 15.18
119.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$52.5 OMR 20.17
50.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Ar-rustaq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
$158 OMR 60.7
540.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 11.7M
$207 OMR 79.5
225.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
$386 OMR 148
778.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
$206 OMR 79.1
918.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Ar-rustaq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 Rp 3.0M
$4,502 OMR 1,729
-96.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
5.15
157.86%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Ar-rustaq: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $158 in Ar-rustaq. 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 2501% higher in Ar-rustaq, 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 $26.00 in Ar-rustaq. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $219 – making Ar-rustaq 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 Ar-rustaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ar-rustaq cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,426 in Ar-rustaq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ar-rustaq, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali vs Ar-rustaq?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,438 in Ubud, Bali and $950 in Ar-rustaq. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Ubud, Bali and $128 in Ar-rustaq. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Ar-rustaq?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ar-rustaq, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In Ar-rustaq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Ar-rustaq more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ar-rustaq – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Ar-rustaq?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ar-rustaq. 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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