Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Banda Aceh Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Banda Aceh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,394 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $569 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,551 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $899 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,708 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,229 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 145% more than Banda Aceh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Banda Aceh is 57% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 Rp 60.2K

$1.50 Rp 26.5K

126.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.38 Rp 573.6K

$12.31 Rp 218.0K

163.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.00 Rp 88.6K

$3.39 Rp 60.1K

47.49%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 50.0K

$1.15 Rp 20.3K

145.22%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 Rp 24.4K

$0.56 Rp 9,836

146.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.0K

$0.28 Rp 5,010

160.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 Rp 52.8K

$2.39 Rp 42.4K

24.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 Rp 70.3K

$3.43 Rp 60.8K

15.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 Rp 31.8K

$1.23 Rp 21.7K

45.53%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 43.7K

$1.12 Rp 19.9K

119.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.2K

$0.64 Rp 11.3K

87.50%

Eggs

$2.39 Rp 42.3K

$1.55 Rp 27.4K

54.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 Rp 255.1K

$7.91 Rp 140.1K

82.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.28 Rp 75.9K

$3.20 Rp 56.7K

33.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 Rp 209.4K

$7.91 Rp 140.2K

49.43%

Apples (1kg)

$3.78 Rp 67.0K

$2.38 Rp 42.2K

58.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 28.9K

$1.51 Rp 26.8K

7.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 Rp 49.6K

$1.80 Rp 32.0K

55.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 Rp 40.0K

$1.57 Rp 27.7K

43.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 Rp 35.3K

$1.32 Rp 23.3K

51.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 Rp 39.2K

$1.93 Rp 34.2K

14.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 Rp 18.9K

$0.96 Rp 16.9K

11.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 Rp 13.5K

$0.44 Rp 7,802

72.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 55.4K

$2.50 Rp 44.3K

25.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 421.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 Rp 50.3K

$2.13 Rp 37.7K

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.2K

$3.12 Rp 55.3K

-10.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,726

$0.30 Rp 5,255

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 148.2K

$9.74 Rp 172.6K

-14.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,034

$0.54 Rp 9,511

-16.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,578

$0.37 Rp 6,595

16.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 Rp 105.9K

$2.86 Rp 50.7K

109.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

$0.56 Rp 9,989

42.86%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.8K Rp 457.2M

$24.6K Rp 436.6M

4.70%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.8K Rp 563.4M

$28.2K Rp 499.5M

12.80%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$68.4 Rp 1.2M

18.13%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.14 Rp 73.3K

$4.34 Rp 76.8K

-4.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.12 Rp 427.2K

$22.97 Rp 407.0K

5.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.8 Rp 1.7M

$22.96 Rp 406.6K

325.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.64 Rp 117.7K

$6.10 Rp 108.0K

8.85%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 71.5K

$3.05 Rp 54.0K

32.46%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$297 Rp 5.3M

$92.1 Rp 1.6M

222.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,590 Rp 116.7M

$7,479 Rp 132.5M

-11.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 Rp 976.8K

$32.70 Rp 579.3K

68.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.51 Rp 682.1K

$22.79 Rp 403.8K

68.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$35.50 Rp 628.8K

142.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.0 Rp 1.4M

$34.05 Rp 603.2K

128.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 Rp 17.5M

$255 Rp 4.5M

285.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$665 Rp 11.8M

$156 Rp 2.8M

326.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,446 Rp 61.0M

$580 Rp 10.3M

494.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,042 Rp 36.2M

$327 Rp 5.8M

523.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,829 Rp 50.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,282 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

9.15

45.14%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026

Last update for Banda Aceh: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Ubud, Bali versus $255 in Banda Aceh. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $12.00 in Banda Aceh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $299 vs $166 – making Banda Aceh the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Banda Aceh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 145%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,091 per month in Ubud, Bali and $853 in Banda Aceh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Banda Aceh, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $297 per month in Ubud, Bali and $92.1 in Banda Aceh. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 81% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banda Aceh, where all-in costs run around $569, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,394. In Banda Aceh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Banda Aceh – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Banda Aceh. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.