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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,246 in Argos, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,840 in Argos, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,434 in Argos, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 14% more than Argos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Argos is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Argos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
$11.54 €9.93
-69.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
$38.24 €32.89
-14.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
$7.87 €6.77
-37.10%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
$2.73 €2.35
-0.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
$1.67 €1.44
-19.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$0.56 €0.48
25.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
$2.91 €2.50
0.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
$3.37 €2.90
17.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Argos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
$1.32 €1.14
37.12%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
$1.39 €1.20
81.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
$1.59 €1.37
-27.04%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
$3.50 €3.01
-29.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
$11.38 €9.79
29.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
$6.67 €5.74
-35.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
$9.21 €7.92
31.81%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
$1.43 €1.23
168.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
$1.83 €1.57
-14.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
$0.89 €0.76
217.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
$1.96 €1.69
18.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
$1.07 €0.92
78.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
$1.16 €1.00
89.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
$0.90 €0.77
12.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
$0.60 €0.52
30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
$4.83 €4.15
-31.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
$5.85 €5.03
305.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
$2.10 €1.80
32.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
$3.69 €3.18
-22.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Argos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,800
$1.61 €1.38
-83.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
$45.79 €39.39
-82.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,150
$4.06 €3.49
-88.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,037
$1.05 €0.91
-57.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
$11.61 €9.99
-47.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$2.12 €1.82
-62.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
$32.2K €27.7K
-18.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
$24.9K €21.4K
29.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Argos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$188 €162
-57.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
$22.34 €19.21
-81.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
$32.91 €28.31
-28.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Argos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$58.4 €50.3
68.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
$25.88 €22.26
-74.38%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
$9.71 €8.36
-57.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Argos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$512 €441
-40.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
$6,445 €5,544
2.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Argos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
$64.9 €55.8
-14.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
$31.64 €27.22
21.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$69.2 €59.6
27.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$57.4 €49.37
35.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Argos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
$495 €426
103.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
$382 €329
76.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
$788 €678
336.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
$611 €526
233.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
$2,922 €2,513
-2.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
$2,899 €2,494
-21.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Argos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$744 €640
-77.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
4.42
200.45%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Argos: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $495 in Argos. 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 350% higher in Argos, 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 $38.00 in Argos. Groceries tell a different story – $302 in Ubud, Bali vs $220 in Argos – so Argos wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Argos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Argos?
Ubud, Bali costs about 14% more than Argos, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 vs Argos?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,868 in Argos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Argos?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Argos, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Argos?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $1,246 in Argos. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali vs Argos?
Public transport costs about 470% less in Argos. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Argos?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Argos, where all-in costs run around $1,246, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Argos 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 Argos?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Argos costs $1,246 versus $1,419 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 Argos?
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 Argos?
If budget matters most, go with Argos. 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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