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: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,323 in Armstrong.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,381 in Armstrong.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,275 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,438 in Armstrong.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 41% less than in Armstrong, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 0% above, Armstrong 68% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Armstrong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 58.7K
$21.70 CA$30.09
-84.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.82 Rp 630.7K
$76.3 CA$106
-53.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.63 Rp 99.1K
$10.94 CA$15.18
-48.54%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 49.7K
$3.75 CA$5.21
-24.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
$2.58 CA$3.58
-32.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 Rp 14.0K
$1.78 CA$2.46
-55.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 Rp 53.6K
$6.27 CA$8.69
-51.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
$6.66 CA$9.24
-35.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Armstrong
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 Rp 28.3K
$2.34 CA$3.25
-31.20%
White Bread (500g)
$2.27 Rp 39.9K
$2.41 CA$3.34
-5.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 20.6K
$3.31 CA$4.59
-64.65%
Eggs
$2.17 Rp 38.2K
$3.73 CA$5.17
-41.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.63 Rp 310.5K
$10.09 CA$14.00
74.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.05 Rp 71.4K
$10.42 CA$14.46
-61.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 214.5K
$17.50 CA$24.28
-30.40%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 Rp 63.7K
$4.00 CA$5.54
-9.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 Rp 28.8K
$1.40 CA$1.94
17.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 40.6K
$4.35 CA$6.04
-46.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.96 Rp 34.5K
$4.03 CA$5.58
-51.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 Rp 32.5K
$2.71 CA$3.76
-32.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.37 Rp 41.7K
$2.39 CA$3.31
-0.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 18.5K
$2.58 CA$3.58
-59.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 Rp 9,560
$1.43 CA$1.98
-62.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30 Rp 40.6K
$13.37 CA$18.55
-82.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.08 Rp 406.4K
$13.16 CA$18.25
75.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
$3.36 CA$4.66
-30.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 Rp 54.0K
$3.86 CA$5.35
-20.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Armstrong
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,365
$2.39 CA$3.32
-89.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.42 Rp 165.9K
$63.7 CA$88.3
-85.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.49 Rp 8,631
$2.21 CA$3.07
-77.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,349
$1.75 CA$2.43
-73.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 98.6K
$12.87 CA$17.86
-56.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
$1.29 CA$1.79
-37.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K Rp 440.3M
$25.5K CA$35.4K
-2.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K Rp 547.0M
$19.5K CA$27.0K
59.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Armstrong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.7 Rp 1.5M
$138 CA$191
-40.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 114.2K
$28.30 CA$39.25
-77.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.79 Rp 330.8K
$55.7 CA$77.2
-66.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Armstrong
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.2 Rp 972.6K
$41.84 CA$58.0
32.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.21 Rp 320.6K
$18.87 CA$26.17
-3.50%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
$10.62 CA$14.73
-59.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Armstrong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 Rp 8.7M
$144 CA$200
243.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,917 Rp 104.2M
$3,935 CA$5,458
50.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Armstrong
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.28 Rp 814.8K
$59.0 CA$81.8
-21.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.44 Rp 641.6K
$39.45 CA$54.7
-7.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
$80.5 CA$112
0.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8 Rp 1.4M
$77.7 CA$108
1.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Armstrong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,114 Rp 19.6M
$1,306 CA$1,811
-14.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$693 Rp 12.2M
$1,169 CA$1,621
-40.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,639 Rp 64.1M
$1,991 CA$2,762
82.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,712 Rp 30.1M
$1,738 CA$2,410
-1.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,761 Rp 48.6M
$4,327 CA$6,000
-36.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,293 Rp 40.4M
$3,629 CA$5,033
-36.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Armstrong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 2.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
4.58
200.87%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Armstrong: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali and $1,306 in Armstrong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $76.0 in Armstrong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $368 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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 69% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,067 in Ubud, Bali and $3,485 in Armstrong to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Armstrong?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,306 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 576% 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 $494 in Ubud, Bali versus $144 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 living in Ubud, Bali or in Armstrong?
At $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,323 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 69% less than in Armstrong. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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