Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and BaCost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Ba
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $481 in Ba.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $817 in Ba.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,152 in Ba.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 195% more expensive than Ba, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Ba is 64% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Ba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56Rp 63.9K
$1.95FJD 4.28
82.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73Rp 586.8K
$29.50FJD 64.6
10.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.95Rp 88.7K
$5.85FJD 12.82
-15.38%
Cappuccino
$2.71Rp 48.6K
$1.95FJD 4.27
38.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 24.1K
$0.98FJD 2.14
36.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.5K
$0.65FJD 1.42
7.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92Rp 52.3K
$3.04FJD 6.66
-3.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96Rp 70.9K
$3.43FJD 7.51
15.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Ba
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81Rp 32.4K
$1.33FJD 2.92
36.09%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52Rp 45.1K
$0.52FJD 1.14
384.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16Rp 20.8K
$1.17FJD 2.56
-0.85%
Eggs
$2.46Rp 44.1K
$3.47FJD 7.59
-29.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.71Rp 263.7K
$9.37FJD 20.53
56.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.32Rp 77.4K
$7.15FJD 15.66
-39.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.14Rp 217.5K
$7.41FJD 16.23
63.83%
Apples(1kg)
$3.84Rp 68.8K
$2.45FJD 5.36
56.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56Rp 27.9K
$2.55FJD 5.58
-38.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83Rp 50.8K
$3.40FJD 7.44
-16.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.7K
$3.22FJD 7.05
-27.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 34.3K
$1.46FJD 3.19
30.82%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20Rp 39.5K
$1.23FJD 2.70
78.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01Rp 18.2K
$1.22FJD 2.66
-17.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78Rp 13.9K
$0.76FJD 1.66
2.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32Rp 59.4K
$9.96FJD 21.81
-66.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.74Rp 425.5K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79Rp 50.0K
$2.20FJD 4.83
26.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86Rp 51.3K
$3.45FJD 7.55
-17.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Ba
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,819
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.03Rp 143.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.46Rp 8,181
$0.92FJD 2.01
-50.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 8,068
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.10Rp 109.3K
$8.84FJD 19.36
-31.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 14.2K
$1.37FJD 3.01
-42.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1KRp 468.8M
$24.1KFJD 52.7K
8.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KRp 575.8M
$24.9KFJD 54.6K
28.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Ba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.9Rp 1.4M
$45.80FJD 100
74.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06Rp 72.9K
$13.27FJD 29.06
-69.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52Rp 421.6K
$24.01FJD 52.6
-2.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Ba
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63Rp 118.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.15Rp 74.3K
$4.55FJD 9.96
-8.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Ba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304Rp 5.4M
$228FJD 500
33.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,613Rp 118.5M
$14.2KFJD 31.1K
-53.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Ba
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5Rp 995.6K
$26.29FJD 57.6
111.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31Rp 686.7K
$27.70FJD 60.7
38.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.6Rp 1.6M
$70.6FJD 155
25.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9Rp 1.4M
$62.2FJD 136
25.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Ba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,006Rp 18.0M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$675Rp 12.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,442Rp 61.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039Rp 36.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,841Rp 50.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,264Rp 40.6M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Ba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$165Rp 3.0M
$392FJD 858
-57.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
4
232.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Last update for Ba: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Ba pays 137% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $29.00 in Ba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $219 per month, with Ba 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 Ba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Ba?
Ba wins on cost – living expenses run 195% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ba the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or Ba?
On paper, Ba earns 137% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and Ba?
Childcare runs $304 in Ubud, Bali versus $228 in Ba. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali vs Ba?
Dining out is cheaper in Ba – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Ba?
At $481 in Ba versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ba but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Ba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Ba?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ba delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $481 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ba hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Ba?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Ba 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 195% less than in Ubud, Bali. 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