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

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$3.31 Rp 58.9K
$8.66 ₽725
-61.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.08 Rp 694.5K
$23.96 ₽2,006
63.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.62 Rp 99.8K
$4.84 ₽405
16.12%
Cappuccino
$2.64 Rp 46.9K
$1.19 ₽99.6
121.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 Rp 28.2K
$0.60 ₽50.0
163.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 Rp 12.6K
$0.28 ₽23.42
153.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.73 Rp 48.5K
$2.34 ₽196
16.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32 Rp 76.8K
$1.87 ₽157
131.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Balakovo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 Rp 27.4K
$1.16 ₽97.2
32.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 Rp 40.8K
$0.83 ₽69.4
177.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.03 Rp 18.3K
$1.32 ₽111
-21.97%
Eggs
$2.12 Rp 37.7K
$1.01 ₽84.6
109.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.30 Rp 307.5K
$12.07 ₽1,011
43.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.03 Rp 71.6K
$4.97 ₽416
-18.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.42 Rp 220.8K
$9.96 ₽834
24.70%
Apples (1kg)
$3.70 Rp 65.7K
$1.30 ₽109
184.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
$1.77 ₽148
-8.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 Rp 40.3K
$2.47 ₽207
-8.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 Rp 35.4K
$2.88 ₽242
-30.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 Rp 32.5K
$1.06 ₽88.7
72.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.25 Rp 40.1K
$0.73 ₽61.5
208.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 Rp 18.6K
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 Rp 10.0K
$0.43 ₽36.02
30.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 39.5K
$2.77 ₽232
-19.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.22 Rp 412.7K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 Rp 42.5K
$0.71 ₽59.3
236.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 Rp 51.1K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Balakovo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,416
$0.57 ₽48.04
-56.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.17 Rp 127.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,163
$1.32 ₽110
-65.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,235
$0.17 ₽14.65
170.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.70 Rp 101.2K
$5.24 ₽439
8.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.6K
$0.82 ₽68.5
-7.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K Rp 436.7M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0K Rp 551.5M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Balakovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.2 Rp 1.5M
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.33 Rp 112.5K
$5.44 ₽455
16.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.54 Rp 329.6K
$4.96 ₽415
273.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Balakovo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.1 Rp 996.2K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.41 Rp 327.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.26 Rp 75.8K
$8.43 ₽706
-49.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Balakovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$489 Rp 8.7M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,793 Rp 103.0M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Balakovo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.98 Rp 817.3K
$30.32 ₽2,539
51.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.86 Rp 637.4K
$36.07 ₽3,020
-0.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.5 Rp 1.4M
$95.1 ₽7,966
-16.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.9 Rp 1.4M
$61.7 ₽5,166
31.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Balakovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,144 Rp 20.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$692 Rp 12.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,532 Rp 62.8M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,709 Rp 30.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,785 Rp 49.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,261 Rp 40.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Balakovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$169 Rp 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.

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