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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $420 in Arak.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $660 in Arak.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $900 in Arak.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 235% more expensive than in Arak, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Arak is 69% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.1K

$2.96 $2.96

16.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 581.1K

$14.08 $14.08

129.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 87.1K

$2.57 $2.57

88.33%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.62 $0.62

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 $0.94

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

$1.27 $1.27

116.54%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 Rp 24.9K

$0.37 $0.37

272.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$1.03 $1.03

-27.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.8K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.2K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.2K

$0.59 $0.59

194.92%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.2K

$0.54 $0.54

355.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$1.94 $1.94

-39.69%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.7K

$0.96 $0.96

153.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.6K

$1.92 $1.92

655.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.2K

$1.87 $1.87

132.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 215.3K

$8.60 $8.60

39.30%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

$0.84 $0.84

342.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$1.11 $1.11

46.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.3K

$0.63 $0.63

334.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

$0.45 $0.45

397.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.5K

$0.41 $0.41

368.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.9K

$0.36 $0.36

533.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.34 $0.34

211.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.25 $0.25

188.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.63 $0.63

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 $0.58

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 $1.43

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 59.0K

$1.80 $1.80

82.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.8K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.1K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,786

$0.42 $0.42

-35.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.7K

$9.80 $9.80

-17.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,675

$0.37 $0.37

29.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,545

$0.09 $0.09

366.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.8K

$1.24 $1.24

401.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$0.37 $0.37

118.92%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.6K Rp 478.2M

$42.9K $42.9K

-38.03%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.2K Rp 578.5M

$38.6K $38.6K

-16.71%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$10.12 $10.12

674.21%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.07 Rp 73.1K

$1.98 $1.98

105.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 437.1K

$5.78 $5.78

320.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$12.89 $12.89

665.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.9K

$16.42 $16.42

-61.39%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.6K

$1.02 $1.02

291.18%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 Rp 5.5M

$60.4 $60.4

405.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.4M

$1,961 $1,961

238.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 972.9K

$13.07 $13.07

314.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 679.4K

$8.13 $8.13

365.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$45.41 $45.41

91.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$44.21 $44.21

72.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$303 $303

227.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$192 $192

250.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.7M

$486 $486

593.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$304 $304

573.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.4M

$1,351 $1,351

107.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 40.0M

$521 $521

327.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$370 $370

-54.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

18.33

-27.55%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Arak: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $303 in Arak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Arak pays 121% 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 $14.00 in Arak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $86.0 per month, with Arak 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 Arak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arak is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 235% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 121% lower in Arak. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $303 in Arak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $420 in Arak – a 235% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Arak runs roughly 21% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $420 in Arak versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Arak but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Arak the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Arak is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Arak are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Arak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 235% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.