Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Arequipa

For one person, living is cheaper in Arequipa: $709 a month against $1,353 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $7,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,353
/mo nomad
Arequipa
🇵🇪 Peru
$709
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Arequipa

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Arequipa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,353 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $709 in Arequipa, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,353
  • Arequipa $709

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,117 in Arequipa, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,297
  • Arequipa $1,117

A family of three spends $3,241 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,524 in Arequipa, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,241
  • Arequipa $1,524

Ubud, Bali costs about 91% more than Arequipa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Arequipa is 48% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Arequipa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
$3.46 PEN 11.87
-6.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.88 Rp 627.8K
$27.89 PEN 95.8
25.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.70 Rp 102.5K
$5.93 PEN 20.37
-3.88%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.1K
$2.42 PEN 8.31
8.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
$0.81 PEN 2.78
112.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$0.39 PEN 1.33
107.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 47.7K
$2.09 PEN 7.16
26.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 Rp 78.6K
$4.27 PEN 14.68
2.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Arequipa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.34 PEN 4.61
17.16%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 Rp 39.5K
$1.36 PEN 4.66
61.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$1.45 PEN 4.99
-18.62%
Eggs
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
$2.29 PEN 7.85
-5.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.65 Rp 317.7K
$6.25 PEN 21.47
182.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.78 Rp 68.0K
$4.59 PEN 15.75
-17.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 Rp 215.1K
$7.33 PEN 25.16
63.03%
Apples (1kg)
$3.60 Rp 64.8K
$1.76 PEN 6.03
104.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
$1.18 PEN 4.05
34.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.6K
$1.13 PEN 3.88
104.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
$0.99 PEN 3.41
92.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
$0.67 PEN 2.29
165.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
$0.67 PEN 2.31
247.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 Rp 18.0K
$0.56 PEN 1.91
78.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,509
$0.76 PEN 2.60
-30.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
$5.13 PEN 17.62
-55.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.07 Rp 397.3K
$5.18 PEN 17.80
326.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
$2.67 PEN 9.17
-11.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 Rp 53.6K
$2.30 PEN 7.90
29.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Arequipa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 Rp 4,112
$0.28 PEN 0.95
-17.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.90 Rp 160.2K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.47 Rp 8,466
$2.02 PEN 6.92
-76.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,737
$2.01 PEN 6.92
-78.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.47 Rp 98.4K
$13.01 PEN 44.68
-57.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
$1.54 PEN 5.28
-46.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K Rp 429.8M
$18.9K PEN 65.0K
26.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K Rp 590.1M
$25.1K PEN 86.3K
30.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Arequipa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
$23.36 PEN 80.2
242.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.56 Rp 118.1K
$10.26 PEN 35.24
-36.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.60 Rp 334.8K
$23.44 PEN 80.5
-20.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Arequipa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 Rp 974.1K
$25.08 PEN 86.1
115.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.28 Rp 329.0K
$8.00 PEN 27.47
128.50%
Cinema Ticket
$4.25 Rp 76.5K
$7.35 PEN 25.24
-42.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Arequipa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
$75.3 PEN 258
554.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,597 Rp 100.7M
$6,598 PEN 22.7K
-15.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Arequipa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.58 Rp 820.4K
$47.74 PEN 164
-4.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.96 Rp 629.4K
$26.42 PEN 90.7
32.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
$67.6 PEN 232
14.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.5 Rp 1.4M
$57.5 PEN 198
36.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Arequipa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,131 Rp 20.4M
$347 PEN 1,192
225.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$237 PEN 813
184.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,613 Rp 65.0M
$719 PEN 2,471
402.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,702 Rp 30.6M
$419 PEN 1,439
306.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,717 Rp 48.9M
$1,963 PEN 6,740
38.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
$989 PEN 3,397
126.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Arequipa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$619 PEN 2,125
-73.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
15
-8.13%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 19, 2026

Last update for Arequipa: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$673
Arequipa
$237 64.8% $436
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$287
Arequipa
$174 39.4% $113
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$107
Arequipa
$90 15.8% $17
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Arequipa
$98 7.7% $8.2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$105
Arequipa
$57 45.7% $48
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$63
Arequipa
$40 36.5% $23
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Arequipa
$13 * 6.2% $0.8

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,131 in Ubud, Bali versus $347 in Arequipa. 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 272% higher in Arequipa, 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 $35.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $28.00 in Arequipa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $287 vs $174 – making Arequipa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇵🇪 Arequipa
🕒 Local time
11:18 11:18 AM
22:18 10:18 PM
13 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
17,062
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PEN, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 3.43 PEN (1 PEN = 0.291 USD). 1 EUR = 3.86 PEN (1 PEN = 0.259 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Arequipa 17,150 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Arequipa

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Arequipa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Arequipa?
Ubud, Bali costs about 91% more than Arequipa, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Arequipa?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,030 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,063 in Arequipa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Arequipa?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Arequipa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Arequipa?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali and $28.00 in Arequipa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Arequipa?
Groceries cost about 65% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Arequipa?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Arequipa, where all-in costs run around $709, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,353. In Arequipa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Arequipa?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Arequipa costs $709 versus $1,353 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Arequipa?
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.
Should I move to Ubud, Bali or to Arequipa?
If budget matters most, go with Arequipa. 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.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

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