😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,379 in Ubud, Bali versus $728 in Barbacena.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,363 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,130 in Barbacena.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,347 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,533 in Barbacena.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 90% more expensive than in Barbacena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 1% above, Barbacena is 47% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Barbacena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.31Rp 58.9K
$5.24R$27.23
-36.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.08Rp 694.5K
$20.46R$106
91.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.62Rp 99.8K
$5.86R$30.44
-4.10%
Cappuccino
$2.64Rp 46.9K
$1.67R$8.67
58.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58Rp 28.2K
$1.56R$8.10
1.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71Rp 12.6K
$0.83R$4.32
-14.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.73Rp 48.5K
$1.24R$6.43
120.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32Rp 76.8K
$2.14R$11.09
101.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Barbacena
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54Rp 27.4K
$1.04R$5.40
48.08%
White Bread(500g)
$2.30Rp 40.8K
$1.96R$10.19
17.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.03Rp 18.3K
$1.30R$6.75
-20.77%
Eggs
$2.12Rp 37.7K
$2.19R$11.39
-3.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.30Rp 307.5K
$6.78R$35.19
155.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.03Rp 71.6K
$3.48R$18.06
15.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.42Rp 220.8K
$9.59R$49.81
29.51%
Apples(1kg)
$3.70Rp 65.7K
$1.12R$5.80
230.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62Rp 28.7K
$1.73R$8.97
-6.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27Rp 40.3K
$1.58R$8.18
43.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99Rp 35.4K
$1.16R$6.05
71.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83Rp 32.5K
$0.76R$3.94
140.79%
Onion(1kg)
$2.25Rp 40.1K
$1.02R$5.32
120.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04Rp 18.6K
$0.59R$3.08
76.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56Rp 10.0K
$0.57R$2.95
-1.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22Rp 39.5K
$1.76R$9.13
26.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.22Rp 412.7K
$5.86R$30.43
296.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39Rp 42.5K
$0.72R$3.73
231.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87Rp 51.1K
$2.54R$13.21
12.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Barbacena
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25Rp 4,416
$0.99R$5.16
-74.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.17Rp 127.4K
$48.48R$252
-85.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.46Rp 8,163
$1.16R$6.01
-60.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.46Rp 8,235
$0.86R$4.48
-46.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.70Rp 101.2K
$8.89R$46.17
-35.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76Rp 13.6K
$1.19R$6.16
-36.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6KRp 436.7M
$14.4KR$74.8K
70.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0KRp 551.5M
$11.6KR$60.1K
168.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Barbacena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.2Rp 1.5M
$80.3R$417
2.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.33Rp 112.5K
$10.88R$56.5
-41.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.54Rp 329.6K
$13.36R$69.4
38.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Barbacena
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.1Rp 996.2K
$24.95R$130
124.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.41Rp 327.2K
$26.77R$139
-31.23%
Cinema Ticket
$4.26Rp 75.8K
$6.84R$35.54
-37.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Barbacena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$489Rp 8.7M
$552R$2,865
-11.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,793Rp 103.0M
$12.7KR$66.0K
-54.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Barbacena
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.98Rp 817.3K
$40.00R$208
14.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.86Rp 637.4K
$43.91R$228
-18.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.5Rp 1.4M
$68.2R$354
16.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.9Rp 1.4M
$62.8R$326
28.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Barbacena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,144Rp 20.3M
$217R$1,125
428.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$692Rp 12.3M
$164R$850
322.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,532Rp 62.8M
$410R$2,127
762.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,709Rp 30.4M
$295R$1,533
478.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,785Rp 49.5M
$1,708R$8,867
63.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,261Rp 40.2M
$1,173R$6,089
92.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Barbacena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$169Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
11.93
15.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 15, 2026
Last update for Barbacena: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,144 in Ubud, Bali and $217 in Barbacena. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $20.00 in Barbacena for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $172 per month, with Barbacena 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 Barbacena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Barbacena?
Ubud, Bali and Barbacena differ by about 90% in total monthly costs ($1,379 vs $728 including rent). Barbacena 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 Barbacena?
You'd need roughly $2,069 in Ubud, Bali and $1,092 in Barbacena 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 Barbacena?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,144 in Ubud, Bali versus $217 in Barbacena. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Barbacena?
All in, you'll spend $1,379 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $728 in Barbacena – a 90% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Barbacena?
A monthly transit pass in Barbacena runs roughly 576% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $728 in Barbacena versus $1,379 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Barbacena but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Barbacena the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Barbacena?
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 Barbacena safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Barbacena 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 Barbacena?
Expats usually find Barbacena gentler on the wallet – expenses run 90% 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