😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $993 in Bambous.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,595 in Bambous.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,198 in Bambous.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 43% more expensive than Bambous, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Bambous is 26% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Bambous
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56Rp 63.9K
$4.45MUR 210
-20.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73Rp 586.8K
$43.42MUR 2,055
-24.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.95Rp 88.7K
$4.34MUR 206
14.06%
Cappuccino
$2.71Rp 48.6K
$2.22MUR 105
22.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 24.1K
$1.03MUR 48.82
30.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.5K
$0.45MUR 21.47
55.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92Rp 52.3K
$2.25MUR 106
29.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96Rp 70.9K
$1.70MUR 80.2
132.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Bambous
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81Rp 32.4K
$1.24MUR 58.8
45.97%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52Rp 45.1K
$0.66MUR 31.28
281.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16Rp 20.8K
$1.12MUR 53.1
3.57%
Eggs
$2.46Rp 44.1K
$2.27MUR 107
8.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.71Rp 263.7K
$11.72MUR 555
25.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.32Rp 77.4K
$3.39MUR 160
27.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.14Rp 217.5K
$4.35MUR 206
179.08%
Apples(1kg)
$3.84Rp 68.8K
$2.06MUR 97.7
86.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56Rp 27.9K
$1.99MUR 94.3
-21.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83Rp 50.8K
$1.45MUR 68.8
95.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.7K
$2.69MUR 128
-13.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 34.3K
$1.00MUR 47.27
91.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20Rp 39.5K
$1.02MUR 48.09
115.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01Rp 18.2K
$0.81MUR 38.23
24.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78Rp 13.9K
$0.81MUR 38.28
-3.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32Rp 59.4K
$6.58MUR 311
-49.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.74Rp 425.5K
$8.36MUR 396
183.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79Rp 50.0K
$1.77MUR 84.0
57.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86Rp 51.3K
$2.24MUR 106
27.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Bambous
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,819
$1.00MUR 47.36
-73.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.03Rp 143.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.46Rp 8,181
$4.41MUR 209
-89.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 8,068
$2.62MUR 124
-82.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.10Rp 109.3K
$20.18MUR 955
-69.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 14.2K
$1.42MUR 67.0
-44.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1KRp 468.8M
$35.5KMUR 1.7M
-26.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KRp 575.8M
$29.2KMUR 1.4M
9.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Bambous
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.9Rp 1.4M
$48.89MUR 2,313
63.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06Rp 72.9K
$18.28MUR 865
-77.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52Rp 421.6K
$33.50MUR 1,585
-29.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Bambous
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.7Rp 1.8M
$39.02MUR 1,847
152.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63Rp 118.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.15Rp 74.3K
$6.14MUR 290
-32.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Bambous
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304Rp 5.4M
$152MUR 7,200
99.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,613Rp 118.5M
$3,890MUR 184.1K
70.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Bambous
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5Rp 995.6K
$84.1MUR 3,981
-33.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31Rp 686.7K
$79.1MUR 3,741
-51.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.6Rp 1.6M
$134MUR 6,331
-33.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9Rp 1.4M
$94.6MUR 4,477
-17.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Bambous
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,006Rp 18.0M
$505MUR 23.9K
99.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$675Rp 12.1M
$358MUR 16.9K
88.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,442Rp 61.7M
$951MUR 45.0K
262.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039Rp 36.6M
$708MUR 33.5K
188.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,841Rp 50.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,264Rp 40.6M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Bambous
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$165Rp 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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Bambous: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $505 in Bambous. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $43.00 in Bambous. Groceries flip the comparison at $302 vs $187, 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 Bambous?
Ubud, Bali and Bambous differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($1,419 vs $993 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 $2,129 in Ubud, Bali and $1,490 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 Bambous?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $505 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 $304 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 $43.00 versus $33.00 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 $993 in Bambous versus $1,419 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 43% 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