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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,395 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,433 in Armstrong.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,559 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,470 in Armstrong.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,724 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,506 in Armstrong.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 43% less than in Armstrong, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 4% above, Armstrong 81% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Armstrong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.48 Rp 59.7K
$22.21 CA$30.42
-84.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.88 Rp 564.0K
$71.0 CA$97.3
-53.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.09 Rp 87.3K
$10.95 CA$15.00
-53.52%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 47.1K
$3.70 CA$5.07
-25.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 23.7K
$2.62 CA$3.59
-47.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 Rp 12.2K
$1.91 CA$2.62
-62.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.88 Rp 49.4K
$5.98 CA$8.19
-51.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87 Rp 66.4K
$6.64 CA$9.10
-41.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Armstrong
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 Rp 30.7K
$2.78 CA$3.81
-35.61%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 Rp 42.0K
$2.54 CA$3.48
-3.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 Rp 20.7K
$3.40 CA$4.66
-64.41%
Eggs
$2.39 Rp 40.9K
$3.82 CA$5.23
-37.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.70 Rp 252.1K
$9.94 CA$13.62
47.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.24 Rp 72.7K
$10.60 CA$14.52
-60.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.08 Rp 207.1K
$15.82 CA$21.68
-23.64%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 62.9K
$3.84 CA$5.27
-4.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.6K
$1.72 CA$2.36
-6.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.72 Rp 46.6K
$4.01 CA$5.50
-32.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 Rp 39.0K
$4.08 CA$5.58
-44.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 32.6K
$2.65 CA$3.64
-28.30%
Onion (1kg)
$2.30 Rp 39.4K
$2.22 CA$3.05
3.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 17.4K
$2.83 CA$3.87
-63.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.4K
$1.75 CA$2.40
-55.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.24 Rp 55.7K
$13.37 CA$18.32
-75.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.06 Rp 412.7K
$13.25 CA$18.15
81.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 Rp 48.7K
$3.47 CA$4.76
-18.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 47.8K
$3.85 CA$5.28
-27.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Armstrong
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,610
$2.33 CA$3.20
-88.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.24 Rp 141.4K
$63.3 CA$86.7
-86.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,708
$2.49 CA$3.41
-81.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,305
$1.66 CA$2.28
-74.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.02 Rp 103.3K
$12.76 CA$17.48
-52.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 14.7K
$1.27 CA$1.74
-32.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 447.1M
$24.9K CA$34.2K
4.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 543.7M
$20.0K CA$27.4K
58.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Armstrong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.3 Rp 1.3M
$163 CA$224
-52.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.00 Rp 68.5K
$45.14 CA$61.8
-91.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.35 Rp 417.7K
$63.6 CA$87.1
-61.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Armstrong
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$95.8 Rp 1.6M
$41.94 CA$57.5
128.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.46 Rp 110.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rp 68.7K
$10.66 CA$14.60
-62.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Armstrong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$302 Rp 5.2M
$444 CA$609
-32.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,545 Rp 112.3M
$4,116 CA$5,639
59.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Armstrong
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 Rp 916.3K
$60.8 CA$83.3
-12.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.55 Rp 661.2K
$39.10 CA$53.6
-1.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.1 Rp 1.5M
$81.8 CA$112
8.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$78.4 CA$107
0.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Armstrong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,016 Rp 17.4M
$1,313 CA$1,798
-22.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$672 Rp 11.5M
$1,169 CA$1,601
-42.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,368 Rp 57.8M
$2,028 CA$2,778
66.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,108 Rp 36.2M
$1,823 CA$2,497
15.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,001 Rp 51.5M
$4,275 CA$5,856
-29.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,337 Rp 40.1M
$3,225 CA$4,419
-27.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Armstrong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$178 Rp 3.0M
$1,096 CA$1,501
-83.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6.36
108.81%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 12, 2026

Last update for Armstrong: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,016 in Ubud, Bali and $1,313 in Armstrong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Armstrong pays 517% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33 in Ubud, Bali vs $71 in Armstrong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $375 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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 Armstrong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Armstrong cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 74% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Armstrong?
On paper, Armstrong earns 517% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Armstrong?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,016 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,313 in Armstrong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 668% less than in Armstrong. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $302 in Ubud, Bali versus $444 in Armstrong. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Armstrong?
At $1,395 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,433 in Armstrong, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Armstrong. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Armstrong more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Armstrong, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Armstrong?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Armstrong are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Armstrong. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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