Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Benares Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Benares

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $988 in Benares, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,582 in Benares, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,177 in Benares, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 42% more than Benares, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Benares is 27% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

$6.41 MUR 302

-44.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$44.06 MUR 2,075

-26.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$6.51 MUR 307

-25.35%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$2.65 MUR 125

3.77%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$1.01 MUR 47.71

30.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.56 MUR 26.17

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$2.15 MUR 101

35.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$2.76 MUR 130

37.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$1.49 MUR 70.3

14.77%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$0.66 MUR 31.30

274.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$1.33 MUR 62.7

-9.77%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$2.34 MUR 110

4.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$9.70 MUR 457

48.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$6.09 MUR 287

-29.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

$10.65 MUR 501

14.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$1.98 MUR 93.1

85.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$1.98 MUR 93.1

-21.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$1.45 MUR 68.3

92.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$2.61 MUR 123

-10.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$1.01 MUR 47.74

95.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$0.95 MUR 44.92

143.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.86 MUR 40.43

23.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.52 MUR 24.69

40.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$5.92 MUR 279

-44.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$9.62 MUR 453

136.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$1.74 MUR 82.2

61.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$2.10 MUR 99.1

32.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$1.01 MUR 47.46

-71.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$4.43 MUR 209

-89.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

$2.65 MUR 125

-83.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$15.59 MUR 734

-59.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$1.45 MUR 68.3

-41.38%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$36.1K MUR 1.7M

-27.96%

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$28.9K MUR 1.4M

9.73%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$48.72 MUR 2,294

65.74%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$18.00 MUR 848

-77.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$32.52 MUR 1,532

-24.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$37.81 MUR 1,781

158.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$5.96 MUR 281

-32.21%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$154 MUR 7,261

97.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$3,916 MUR 184.4K

69.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$49.65 MUR 2,338

9.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$44.37 MUR 2,089

-12.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$83.5 MUR 3,934

3.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$78.3 MUR 3,688

-2.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$511 MUR 24.1K

92.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$355 MUR 16.7K

85.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$935 MUR 44.0K

260.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$724 MUR 34.1K

185.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

6.25

112.48%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Benares: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $511 in Benares. 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $44.00 in Benares. Groceries tell a different story – $297 in Ubud, Bali vs $215 in Benares – so Benares wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Benares: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, $988 in Benares – roughly 42% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,481 in Benares. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $44.00 in Benares. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Benares, where all-in costs run around $988, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In Benares it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Benares has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $988 in Benares to $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Benares. 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.