😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $979 in Bambous.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,585 in Bambous.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,191 in Bambous.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 44% more expensive than in Bambous, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Bambous is 27% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Bambous
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45Rp 62.1K
$4.50MUR 211
-23.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34Rp 581.1K
$44.82MUR 2,105
-27.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.84Rp 87.1K
$4.34MUR 204
11.52%
Cappuccino
$2.75Rp 49.4K
$2.23MUR 105
23.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38Rp 24.9K
$1.02MUR 48.04
35.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75Rp 13.5K
$0.45MUR 21.15
66.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 53.8K
$2.22MUR 104
34.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 69.2K
$1.67MUR 78.5
130.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Bambous
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 31.2K
$1.20MUR 56.2
45.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.46Rp 44.2K
$0.65MUR 30.75
278.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17Rp 21.0K
$1.08MUR 50.9
8.33%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 43.7K
$2.33MUR 109
4.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.50Rp 260.6K
$11.90MUR 559
21.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.35Rp 78.2K
$3.21MUR 151
35.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.98Rp 215.3K
$4.50MUR 212
166.22%
Apples(1kg)
$3.72Rp 66.8K
$1.96MUR 92.1
89.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.2K
$2.00MUR 94.2
-18.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.74Rp 49.3K
$1.49MUR 70.0
83.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24Rp 40.3K
$2.64MUR 124
-15.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92Rp 34.5K
$0.98MUR 46.21
95.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28Rp 40.9K
$0.95MUR 44.59
140.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.1K
$0.79MUR 37.23
34.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.9K
$0.82MUR 38.33
-12.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29Rp 59.0K
$6.78MUR 318
-51.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.19Rp 416.8K
$8.54MUR 401
171.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 49.9K
$1.73MUR 81.4
60.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73Rp 49.1K
$2.22MUR 104
22.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Bambous
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,786
$1.00MUR 46.89
-73.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.11Rp 145.7K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,675
$4.37MUR 205
-89.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,545
$2.63MUR 124
-84.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.22Rp 111.8K
$19.99MUR 939
-68.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.6K
$1.44MUR 67.7
-43.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KRp 478.2M
$35.2KMUR 1.7M
-24.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2KRp 578.5M
$28.9KMUR 1.4M
11.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Bambous
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$49.13MUR 2,308
59.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07Rp 73.1K
$18.39MUR 864
-77.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33Rp 437.1K
$32.99MUR 1,550
-26.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Bambous
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.6Rp 1.8M
$38.96MUR 1,830
153.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34Rp 113.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.99Rp 71.6K
$6.18MUR 290
-35.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Bambous
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305Rp 5.5M
$152MUR 7,147
100.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,642Rp 119.4M
$3,908MUR 183.6K
69.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Bambous
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1Rp 972.9K
$85.9MUR 4,037
-37.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81Rp 679.4K
$81.3MUR 3,818
-53.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.6M
$133MUR 6,265
-34.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4Rp 1.4M
$92.9MUR 4,361
-17.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Bambous
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$992Rp 17.8M
$516MUR 24.2K
92.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$673Rp 12.1M
$357MUR 16.8K
88.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,375Rp 60.7M
$963MUR 45.2K
250.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,050Rp 36.8M
$708MUR 33.3K
189.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,805Rp 50.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,227Rp 40.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Bambous
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
6.67
99.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Last update for Bambous: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $516 in Bambous. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $45.00 in Bambous. Groceries flip the comparison at $297 vs $186, with Bambous cheaper for home cooking.
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 Bambous: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Bambous?
Ubud, Bali and Bambous differ by about 44% in total monthly costs ($1,408 vs $979 including rent). Bambous is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Bambous?
You'd need roughly $2,112 in Ubud, Bali and $1,469 in Bambous to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Bambous?
Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $516 in Bambous. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and Bambous?
Childcare runs $305 in Ubud, Bali versus $152 in Bambous. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Bambous – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $979 in Bambous versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bambous but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Bambous the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Bambous?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ubud, Bali or Bambous safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Bambous are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Bambous?
Expats usually find Bambous gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% 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