😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $779 in Baguio.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,139 in Baguio.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,500 in Baguio.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 85% more expensive than Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 7% above, Baguio is 42% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Baguio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 61.9K
$3.59₱222
-0.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58Rp 564.7K
$13.50₱833
141.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.07Rp 87.8K
$2.60₱160
95.00%
Cappuccino
$2.83Rp 49.0K
$2.34₱145
20.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 23.2K
$0.70₱43.29
91.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69Rp 12.0K
$0.40₱24.72
72.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 51.8K
$1.46₱89.9
104.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 66.7K
$2.00₱123
92.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Baguio
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 30.2K
$1.89₱116
-7.94%
White Bread(500g)
$2.54Rp 44.0K
$1.25₱77.3
103.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19Rp 20.6K
$1.11₱68.6
7.21%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 42.0K
$2.20₱135
10.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.66Rp 254.1K
$9.08₱560
61.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.18Rp 72.4K
$3.70₱228
12.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94Rp 206.9K
$8.42₱519
41.81%
Apples(1kg)
$3.69Rp 63.9K
$2.63₱162
40.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61Rp 27.8K
$1.87₱115
-13.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.69Rp 46.5K
$2.26₱140
19.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 40.4K
$1.18₱72.6
97.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 33.0K
$1.82₱112
4.95%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19Rp 37.9K
$2.29₱141
-4.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 18.3K
$0.72₱44.67
47.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.5K
$0.77₱47.61
-6.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13Rp 54.3K
$3.35₱206
-6.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.49Rp 407.1K
$9.17₱566
156.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74Rp 47.5K
$1.08₱66.4
153.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88Rp 49.9K
$2.26₱140
27.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Baguio
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,029
$0.26₱15.90
11.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.17Rp 141.6K
$10.56₱652
-22.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 7,863
$0.87₱53.7
-48.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,305
$0.22₱13.54
90.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.16Rp 106.7K
$2.45₱151
151.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 14.6K
$1.11₱68.3
-24.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2KRp 454.9M
$32.3K₱2.0M
-18.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 562.9M
$20.5K₱1.3M
58.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Baguio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$146₱8,987
-46.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95Rp 68.5K
$34.10₱2,103
-88.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40Rp 423.0K
$25.99₱1,603
-6.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Baguio
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$96.5Rp 1.7M
$21.76₱1,342
343.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35Rp 110.0K
$4.16₱256
52.64%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04Rp 70.0K
$5.93₱366
-31.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Baguio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303Rp 5.2M
$153₱9,455
97.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,523Rp 113.1M
$4,642₱286.3K
40.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Baguio
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8Rp 933.1K
$49.11₱3,029
9.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98Rp 658.3K
$27.25₱1,681
39.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.5M
$76.3₱4,706
13.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9Rp 1.4M
$45.91₱2,832
71.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Baguio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,012Rp 17.5M
$346₱21.3K
192.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$674Rp 11.7M
$142₱8,777
373.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,390Rp 58.8M
$544₱33.6K
522.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,098Rp 36.4M
$264₱16.3K
695.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,985Rp 51.7M
$2,423₱149.4K
23.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,339Rp 40.5M
$949₱58.5K
146.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Baguio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$173Rp 3.0M
$186₱11.5K
-6.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
4.5
195.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Last update for Baguio: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali and $346 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Baguio pays 7% 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 $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $205 per month, with Baguio 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 Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Baguio?
Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 85% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or Baguio?
On paper, Baguio earns 7% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali vs Baguio?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $346 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Baguio?
All in, you'll spend $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $779 in Baguio – a 85% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali vs Baguio?
A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 29% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Baguio?
At $779 in Baguio versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Baguio but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Baguio the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Baguio?
Both work as nomad bases, but Baguio delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $779 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Baguio hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Baguio?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Baguio 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 Baguio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 85% 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