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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $418 in Babol, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $743 in Babol, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,067 in Babol, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 236% more than Babol, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Babol is 69% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.1K

$3.51 $3.51

-1.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 581.1K

$18.01 $18.01

79.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 87.1K

$5.14 $5.14

-5.84%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.62 $0.62

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 $1.05

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

$0.92 $0.92

198.91%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 Rp 24.9K

$0.42 $0.42

228.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.92 $0.92

-18.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.8K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.2K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.2K

$0.59 $0.59

194.92%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.2K

$0.19 $0.19

1194.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$1.87 $1.87

-37.43%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.7K

$1.08 $1.08

125.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.6K

$1.93 $1.93

651.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.2K

$3.28 $3.28

32.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 215.3K

$8.39 $8.39

42.79%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

$0.93 $0.93

300.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$1.26 $1.26

29.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.3K

$0.87 $0.87

214.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

$0.53 $0.53

322.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.5K

$0.55 $0.55

249.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.9K

$0.43 $0.43

430.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.34 $0.34

211.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.14 $0.14

414.29%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.59 $0.59

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 $0.59

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 $1.57

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 59.0K

$1.75 $1.75

88.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.8K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.1K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,786

$0.17 $0.17

58.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.7K

$10.14 $10.14

-20.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,675

$0.52 $0.52

-7.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,545

$0.27 $0.27

55.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.8K

$3.07 $3.07

102.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$0.72 $0.72

12.50%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.6K Rp 478.2M

$81.1K $81.1K

-67.20%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.2K Rp 578.5M

$29.9K $29.9K

7.60%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$14.94 $14.94

424.43%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.07 Rp 73.1K

$1.98 $1.98

105.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 437.1K

$3.93 $3.93

519.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$15.89 $15.89

520.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.9K

$12.32 $12.32

-48.54%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.6K

$1.46 $1.46

173.29%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 Rp 5.5M

$49.72 $49.72

513.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.4M

$1,949 $1,949

240.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 972.9K

$21.94 $21.94

146.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 679.4K

$33.70 $33.70

12.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$120 $120

-27.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$70.6 $70.6

8.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$189 $189

424.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$95.9 $95.9

601.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.7M

$483 $483

598.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$288 $288

611.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.4M

$923 $923

203.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 40.0M

$599 $599

271.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$130 $130

27.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

23.75

-44.08%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Babol: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $189 in Babol. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 28% higher in Ubud, Bali, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $18.00 in Babol. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $91.0 – making Babol the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Babol: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, $418 in Babol – roughly 236% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $628 in Babol. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Babol, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 25% less in Babol. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Ubud, Bali and $49.72 in Babol. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Babol, where all-in costs run around $418, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Babol it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $418 in Babol to $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Babol. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.