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 $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $976 in Benares, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,574 in Benares, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,172 in Benares, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 43% more than Benares, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% 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 64.5K

$6.75 MUR 316

-47.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.32 Rp 583.4K

$43.23 MUR 2,025

-25.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

$6.52 MUR 305

-23.16%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 51.0K

$2.66 MUR 125

6.02%

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

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

$1.03 MUR 48.37

31.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

$0.56 MUR 26.28

30.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

$2.12 MUR 99.5

38.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 Rp 71.1K

$2.69 MUR 126

46.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 Rp 32.1K

$1.52 MUR 71.1

17.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 44.2K

$0.70 MUR 32.97

250.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

$1.28 MUR 60.2

-10.16%

Eggs

$2.41 Rp 43.6K

$2.23 MUR 104

8.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 Rp 258.7K

$9.70 MUR 454

47.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

$6.09 MUR 285

-31.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.06 Rp 217.7K

$10.35 MUR 485

16.52%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 65.7K

$1.97 MUR 92.2

84.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

$2.01 MUR 94.0

-21.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

$1.49 MUR 69.7

87.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

$2.60 MUR 122

-13.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.7K

$1.02 MUR 47.84

94.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.1K

$1.02 MUR 47.65

123.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

$0.81 MUR 37.72

29.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.56 MUR 26.32

41.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 Rp 57.6K

$6.12 MUR 286

-47.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 424.1K

$8.22 MUR 385

185.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.3K

$1.81 MUR 84.7

60.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 49.7K

$2.17 MUR 102

27.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,813

$1.00 MUR 46.72

-73.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 151.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,167

$4.49 MUR 210

-89.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,298

$2.61 MUR 122

-82.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.6K

$15.48 MUR 725

-60.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

$1.46 MUR 68.4

-41.10%

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

$26.6K Rp 480.0M

$35.4K MUR 1.7M

-24.94%

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

$32.5K Rp 587.6M

$28.4K MUR 1.3M

14.47%

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

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

$50.4 MUR 2,361

56.75%

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

$4.09 Rp 73.9K

$18.43 MUR 863

-77.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.85 Rp 430.5K

$31.92 MUR 1,495

-25.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

$38.06 MUR 1,783

159.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.3K

$6.14 MUR 287

-34.69%

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

$297 Rp 5.4M

$155 MUR 7,258

91.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,602 Rp 119.2M

$3,941 MUR 184.6K

67.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 964.5K

$49.62 MUR 2,324

7.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 Rp 688.1K

$43.59 MUR 2,042

-12.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

$80.9 MUR 3,790

9.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

$80.3 MUR 3,759

-4.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

$520 MUR 24.4K

96.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 Rp 12.3M

$353 MUR 16.6K

92.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,469 Rp 62.6M

$939 MUR 44.0K

269.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 Rp 37.7M

$726 MUR 34.0K

187.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 3.0M

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Benares: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $520 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $43.00 in Benares. Groceries tell a different story – $298 in Ubud, Bali vs $213 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: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, $976 in Benares – roughly 43% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,088 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,464 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali and $43.00 in Benares. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% 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 $976, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. 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 $976 in Benares to $1,392 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.