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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $645 in Aracaju.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,002 in Aracaju.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,359 in Aracaju.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 118% more expensive than in Aracaju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Aracaju is 52% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Aracaju
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 Rp 62.0K
$4.97 R$25.41
-30.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 580.1K
$21.83 R$112
48.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 86.9K
$5.29 R$27.05
-8.51%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.3K
$1.61 R$8.23
70.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.8K
$0.97 R$4.94
42.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$0.55 R$2.83
36.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.7K
$1.84 R$9.41
62.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.1K
$2.59 R$13.25
48.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Aracaju
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.1K
$0.95 R$4.84
83.16%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
$1.30 R$6.67
89.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$1.04 R$5.30
12.50%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.6K
$1.51 R$7.71
60.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.2K
$6.79 R$34.70
113.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.0K
$3.39 R$17.35
28.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 214.9K
$6.35 R$32.45
88.66%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.7K
$1.64 R$8.39
126.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$1.14 R$5.80
42.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.2K
$0.65 R$3.34
321.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
$0.98 R$5.00
128.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.4K
$0.89 R$4.52
115.73%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.8K
$0.88 R$4.50
159.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$0.46 R$2.34
130.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$0.56 R$2.87
28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 58.9K
$2.01 R$10.27
63.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.1K
$5.67 R$28.96
308.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.8K
$1.32 R$6.77
110.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.0K
$1.89 R$9.68
44.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Aracaju
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,778
$0.79 R$4.04
-65.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.4K
$38.12 R$195
-78.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,659
$1.09 R$5.58
-55.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,532
$1.09 R$5.57
-61.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.6K
$6.17 R$31.54
0.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$1.04 R$5.30
-22.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 477.4M
$18.4K R$93.8K
45.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 577.4M
$26.3K R$134.5K
22.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Aracaju
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$68.3 R$349
14.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.0K
$14.32 R$73.2
-71.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 436.4K
$15.84 R$80.9
53.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Aracaju
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
$18.83 R$96.2
423.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.7K
$24.19 R$124
-73.79%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.5K
$5.82 R$29.74
-31.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Aracaju
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
$169 R$863
80.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.2M
$4,901 R$25.0K
35.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Aracaju
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 971.2K
$51.4 R$263
5.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 678.2K
$30.09 R$154
25.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
$68.9 R$352
26.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
$79.4 R$406
-3.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Aracaju
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
$179 R$913
455.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$116 R$592
480.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.5M
$598 R$3,056
464.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
$211 R$1,077
873.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.3M
$1,268 R$6,478
121.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 39.9M
$867 R$4,432
156.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Aracaju
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 3.0M
$452 R$2,310
-63.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
10.35
28.31%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Aracaju: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $179 in Aracaju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aracaju pays 171% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $22.00 in Aracaju for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $146 per month, with Aracaju 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 Aracaju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Aracaju?
Ubud, Bali and Aracaju differ by about 118% in total monthly costs ($1,408 vs $645 including rent). Aracaju 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 171% lower in Aracaju. 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 Aracaju?
Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $179 in Aracaju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and Aracaju?
Childcare runs $305 in Ubud, Bali versus $169 in Aracaju. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 103% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $645 in Aracaju versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Aracaju but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Aracaju the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Aracaju?
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 Aracaju safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Aracaju 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 Aracaju?
Expats usually find Aracaju gentler on the wallet – expenses run 118% 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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