😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,379 in Ubud, Bali versus $423 in Balakovo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,363 in Ubud, Bali versus $750 in Balakovo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,347 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,078 in Balakovo.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 226% more expensive than in Balakovo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 1% above, Balakovo is 69% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Balakovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.31Rp 58.9K
$8.66₽725
-61.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.08Rp 694.5K
$23.96₽2,006
63.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.62Rp 99.8K
$4.84₽405
16.12%
Cappuccino
$2.64Rp 46.9K
$1.19₽99.6
121.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58Rp 28.2K
$0.60₽50.0
163.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71Rp 12.6K
$0.28₽23.42
153.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.73Rp 48.5K
$2.34₽196
16.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32Rp 76.8K
$1.87₽157
131.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Balakovo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54Rp 27.4K
$1.16₽97.2
32.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.30Rp 40.8K
$0.83₽69.4
177.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.03Rp 18.3K
$1.32₽111
-21.97%
Eggs
$2.12Rp 37.7K
$1.01₽84.6
109.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.30Rp 307.5K
$12.07₽1,011
43.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.03Rp 71.6K
$4.97₽416
-18.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.42Rp 220.8K
$9.96₽834
24.70%
Apples(1kg)
$3.70Rp 65.7K
$1.30₽109
184.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62Rp 28.7K
$1.77₽148
-8.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27Rp 40.3K
$2.47₽207
-8.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99Rp 35.4K
$2.88₽242
-30.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83Rp 32.5K
$1.06₽88.7
72.64%
Onion(1kg)
$2.25Rp 40.1K
$0.73₽61.5
208.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04Rp 18.6K
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56Rp 10.0K
$0.43₽36.02
30.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22Rp 39.5K
$2.77₽232
-19.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.22Rp 412.7K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39Rp 42.5K
$0.71₽59.3
236.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87Rp 51.1K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Balakovo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25Rp 4,416
$0.57₽48.04
-56.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.17Rp 127.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.46Rp 8,163
$1.32₽110
-65.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.46Rp 8,235
$0.17₽14.65
170.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.70Rp 101.2K
$5.24₽439
8.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76Rp 13.6K
$0.82₽68.5
-7.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6KRp 436.7M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0KRp 551.5M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Balakovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.2Rp 1.5M
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.33Rp 112.5K
$5.44₽455
16.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.54Rp 329.6K
$4.96₽415
273.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Balakovo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.1Rp 996.2K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.41Rp 327.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.26Rp 75.8K
$8.43₽706
-49.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Balakovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$489Rp 8.7M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,793Rp 103.0M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Balakovo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.98Rp 817.3K
$30.32₽2,539
51.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.86Rp 637.4K
$36.07₽3,020
-0.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.5Rp 1.4M
$95.1₽7,966
-16.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.9Rp 1.4M
$61.7₽5,166
31.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Balakovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,144Rp 20.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$692Rp 12.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,532Rp 62.8M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,709Rp 30.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,785Rp 49.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,261Rp 40.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Balakovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$169Rp 3.0M
$450₽37.7K
-62.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
23
-40.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 15, 2026
Last update for Balakovo: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Balakovo pays 166% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $24.00 in Balakovo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $175 per month, with Balakovo 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 Balakovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Balakovo?
Balakovo wins on cost – living expenses run 226% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Balakovo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Balakovo?
On paper, salaries run 166% lower in Balakovo. 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 it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Balakovo?
All in, you'll spend $1,379 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $423 in Balakovo – a 226% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Balakovo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 67% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Balakovo?
At $423 in Balakovo versus $1,379 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Balakovo but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Balakovo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Balakovo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Balakovo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $423 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Balakovo hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Balakovo?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Balakovo 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 Balakovo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 226% 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