Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Aruba

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,348 a month against $2,376 in Aruba, rent and utilities included – about $12,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,348
/mo nomad
Aruba
🇦🇼 Aruba
$2,376
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Aruba actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,376 in Aruba.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,348
  • Aruba $2,376

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,312 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,248 in Aruba.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,312
  • Aruba $4,248

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,276 in Ubud, Bali versus $6,119 in Aruba.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,276
  • Aruba $6,119

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 43% less than in Aruba, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 1% above, Aruba 77% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Aruba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 59.6K
$14.50 AWG 25.95
-77.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.42 Rp 633.1K
$90.9 AWG 163
-61.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.76 Rp 102.9K
$10.62 AWG 19.01
-45.76%
Cappuccino
$2.63 Rp 47.0K
$5.19 AWG 9.29
-49.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 Rp 31.0K
$2.35 AWG 4.21
-25.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 Rp 13.8K
$2.30 AWG 4.11
-66.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
$5.24 AWG 9.38
-48.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 Rp 80.8K
$6.84 AWG 12.25
-33.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Aruba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 Rp 27.4K
$1.67 AWG 2.98
-8.38%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 Rp 39.2K
$2.88 AWG 5.15
-23.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 Rp 21.8K
$3.04 AWG 5.44
-59.87%
Eggs
$2.14 Rp 38.2K
$3.80 AWG 6.81
-43.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.73 Rp 316.9K
$13.97 AWG 25.00
26.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.86 Rp 68.9K
$4.22 AWG 7.55
-8.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.03 Rp 215.0K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.61 Rp 64.5K
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 Rp 27.1K
$1.96 AWG 3.51
-22.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.32 Rp 41.4K
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.00 Rp 35.8K
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.39 Rp 42.7K
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.8K
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,373
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18 Rp 39.0K
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$22.98 Rp 410.7K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 Rp 42.8K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 53.6K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Aruba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 Rp 4,255
$2.49 AWG 4.45
-90.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.99 Rp 125.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,876
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,582
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 Rp 97.4K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 15.1K
$2.38 AWG 4.26
-64.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K Rp 434.8M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K Rp 570.0M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Aruba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
$233 AWG 418
-65.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.58 Rp 117.6K
$133 AWG 239
-95.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.24 Rp 326.1K
$86.6 AWG 155
-78.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Aruba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.1 Rp 985.4K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.51 Rp 330.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.24 Rp 75.9K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Aruba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$486 Rp 8.7M
$302 AWG 541
60.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,676 Rp 101.5M
$17.9K AWG 32.0K
-68.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Aruba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.18 Rp 807.6K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.57 Rp 617.9K
$64.9 AWG 116
-46.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.2 Rp 1.4M
$118 AWG 212
-33.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.6 Rp 1.4M
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Aruba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,127 Rp 20.1M
$652 AWG 1,167
72.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 12.1M
$1,419 AWG 2,540
-52.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,618 Rp 64.7M
$3,256 AWG 5,828
11.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,735 Rp 31.0M
$4,034 AWG 7,222
-57.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,829 Rp 50.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,307 Rp 41.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Aruba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$1,886 AWG 3,377
-91.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
0
-

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 5, 2026

Last update for Aruba: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$674
Aruba
$1.4K 111% $745
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$290
Aruba
$148 * 49.1% $143
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Aruba
$269 149% $161
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$106
Aruba
$82 * 22.6% $24
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$106
Aruba
$453 329% $348
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$64
Aruba
- * 100%
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Aruba
$10 * 5.2% $0.6

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,127 in Ubud, Bali and $652 in Aruba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aruba pays 1039% 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: $35.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $91.0 in Aruba. Groceries flip the comparison at $290 vs $148, with Aruba cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇦🇼 Aruba
🕒 Local time
17:50 5:50 PM
05:50 5:50 AM
12 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
15,236
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AWG, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 17,875 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.59 USD). 1 EUR = 20,030 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.99 EUR).

Aruban Florin exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.79 AWG (1 AWG = 0.559 USD). 1 EUR = 2.01 AWG (1 AWG = 0.499 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Aruba 19,290 km ≈ 25 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Aruba

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 Aruba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Aruba?
Ubud, Bali and Aruba differ by about 76% in total monthly costs ($1,348 vs $2,376 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 1039% lower in Aruba. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Aruba?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,127 in Ubud, Bali versus $652 in Aruba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Aruba pay roughly 97% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Aruba?
All in, you'll spend $1,348 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,376 in Aruba – a 76% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,376 in Aruba, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Aruba. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Aruba?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ubud, Bali or Aruba safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Aruba are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Aruba?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Aruba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

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