Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Ba Cost 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
$3.56 Rp 63.9K
$1.95 FJD 4.28
82.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 586.8K
$29.50 FJD 64.6
10.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.7K
$5.85 FJD 12.82
-15.38%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.6K
$1.95 FJD 4.27
38.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.1K
$0.98 FJD 2.14
36.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$0.65 FJD 1.42
7.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.3K
$3.04 FJD 6.66
-3.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.9K
$3.43 FJD 7.51
15.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Ba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
$1.33 FJD 2.92
36.09%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.1K
$0.52 FJD 1.14
384.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.8K
$1.17 FJD 2.56
-0.85%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
$3.47 FJD 7.59
-29.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 263.7K
$9.37 FJD 20.53
56.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.4K
$7.15 FJD 15.66
-39.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 217.5K
$7.41 FJD 16.23
63.83%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.8K
$2.45 FJD 5.36
56.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.9K
$2.55 FJD 5.58
-38.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.8K
$3.40 FJD 7.44
-16.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.7K
$3.22 FJD 7.05
-27.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
$1.46 FJD 3.19
30.82%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.5K
$1.23 FJD 2.70
78.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.2K
$1.22 FJD 2.66
-17.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.9K
$0.76 FJD 1.66
2.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.4K
$9.96 FJD 21.81
-66.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 425.5K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 50.0K
$2.20 FJD 4.83
26.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.3K
$3.45 FJD 7.55
-17.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Ba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,819
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,181
$0.92 FJD 2.01
-50.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,068
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 109.3K
$8.84 FJD 19.36
-31.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$1.37 FJD 3.01
-42.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 468.8M
$24.1K FJD 52.7K
8.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 575.8M
$24.9K FJD 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)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$45.80 FJD 100
74.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.9K
$13.27 FJD 29.06
-69.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 421.6K
$24.01 FJD 52.6
-2.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Ba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.3K
$4.55 FJD 9.96
-8.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Ba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$228 FJD 500
33.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.5M
$14.2K FJD 31.1K
-53.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Ba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 995.6K
$26.29 FJD 57.6
111.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 686.7K
$27.70 FJD 60.7
38.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$70.6 FJD 155
25.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$62.2 FJD 136
25.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Ba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.6M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Ba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$392 FJD 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.

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