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 $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $326 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $521 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $716 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 319% more than Banda Aceh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Banda Aceh is 76% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

$2.30 Rp 40.7K

49.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 643.0K

$7.01 Rp 124.1K

417.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.0K

$3.50 Rp 61.9K

63.14%

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.3K

$1.26 Rp 22.3K

111.90%

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

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

$0.42 Rp 7,429

316.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

$0.24 Rp 4,264

262.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.3K

$2.51 Rp 44.4K

17.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

$3.93 Rp 69.6K

15.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$1.65 Rp 29.3K

-1.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$0.89 Rp 15.7K

161.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

46.05%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

$1.61 Rp 28.5K

36.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 313.3K

$8.58 Rp 151.9K

106.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.5K

$2.49 Rp 44.0K

64.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 215.6K

$6.83 Rp 120.9K

78.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.6K

$2.31 Rp 40.8K

60.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.1K

$0.88 Rp 15.6K

80.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

$0.89 Rp 15.7K

156.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

$0.88 Rp 15.5K

121.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.7K

$0.88 Rp 15.6K

117.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$3.47 Rp 61.4K

-32.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

$0.81 Rp 14.3K

24.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,773

$0.45 Rp 7,985

22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.5K

$3.17 Rp 56.2K

-29.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 408.6K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.8K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.1K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,814

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,566

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,679

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 99.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

$0.67 Rp 11.9K

19.40%

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

$24.9K Rp 441.7M

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

$31.7K Rp 561.5M

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$34.54 Rp 611.7K

135.84%

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

$6.49 Rp 115.0K

$2.36 Rp 41.8K

175.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 332.4K

$23.88 Rp 422.8K

-21.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

$9.69 Rp 171.5K

486.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 331.7K

$13.38 Rp 237.0K

39.99%

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.4K

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.1M

$1,963 Rp 34.8M

190.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 806.0K

$28.52 Rp 505.1K

59.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 635.4K

$22.86 Rp 404.8K

56.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$44.76 Rp 792.6K

79.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$28.29 Rp 501.0K

178.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Banda Aceh: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $7.00 in Banda Aceh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $137 – 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 319%, 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 $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $490 in Banda Aceh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 116% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali and $7.00 in Banda Aceh. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banda Aceh, where all-in costs run around $326, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. 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.