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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,374 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $686 in Bender, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,313 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $996 in Bender, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,252 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,306 in Bender, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 100% more than Bender, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 2% above the global median, while Bender is 49% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.32 Rp 59.8K

$6.41 MDL 113

-48.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.33 Rp 635.6K

$18.18 MDL 320

94.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.33 Rp 95.9K

$5.78 MDL 102

-7.79%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.5K

$1.24 MDL 21.82

121.77%

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

$1.73 Rp 31.1K

$1.01 MDL 17.73

71.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.4K

$0.53 MDL 9.30

50.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 53.0K

$0.93 MDL 16.41

217.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 Rp 79.9K

$1.67 MDL 29.44

165.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 Rp 27.0K

$0.89 MDL 15.67

68.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 Rp 41.3K

$0.47 MDL 8.24

389.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 Rp 19.8K

$1.38 MDL 24.28

-20.29%

Eggs

$2.16 Rp 38.9K

$1.95 MDL 34.28

10.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.09 Rp 307.4K

$3.91 MDL 68.7

337.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.88 Rp 69.8K

$4.37 MDL 76.8

-11.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.92 Rp 214.4K

$5.49 MDL 96.5

117.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.57 Rp 64.1K

$0.84 MDL 14.70

325.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 Rp 28.5K

$1.85 MDL 32.57

-14.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 Rp 42.5K

$1.89 MDL 33.30

24.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.4K

$1.82 MDL 32.06

8.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 32.5K

$0.66 MDL 11.53

174.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.39 Rp 43.0K

$0.52 MDL 9.16

359.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 Rp 18.3K

$0.55 MDL 9.71

85.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 Rp 8,841

$0.82 MDL 14.50

-40.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 40.4K

$2.75 MDL 48.34

-18.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.30 Rp 401.2K

$2.62 MDL 46.06

751.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 Rp 42.6K

$0.59 MDL 10.31

301.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.1K

$1.94 MDL 34.17

49.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,482

$0.38 MDL 6.71

-34.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.55 Rp 153.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 Rp 7,950

$2.24 MDL 39.35

-80.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,598

$0.29 MDL 5.16

44.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.66 Rp 101.9K

$5.15 MDL 90.6

9.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.7K

$1.37 MDL 24.06

-40.88%

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

$23.7K Rp 427.1M

$29.3K MDL 515.9K

-19.11%

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

$31.0K Rp 557.4M

$30.3K MDL 532.7K

2.22%

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

$82.3 Rp 1.5M

$250 MDL 4,387

-67.01%

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

$6.30 Rp 113.3K

$9.59 MDL 169

-34.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.63 Rp 335.3K

$10.80 MDL 190

72.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 Rp 984.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.45 Rp 331.9K

Cinema Ticket

$4.24 Rp 76.3K

$8.44 MDL 148

-49.76%

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

$484 Rp 8.7M

$434 MDL 7,630

11.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,590 Rp 100.6M

$5,826 MDL 102.4K

-4.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.77 Rp 823.5K

$77.7 MDL 1,366

-41.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.69 Rp 642.2K

$47.28 MDL 831

-24.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 Rp 1.4M

$115 MDL 2,025

-32.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.1 Rp 1.4M

$111 MDL 1,952

-27.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,147 Rp 20.6M

$304 MDL 5,336

277.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$678 Rp 12.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,504 Rp 63.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,688 Rp 30.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,788 Rp 50.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,257 Rp 40.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$316 MDL 5,551

-47.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

9.41

46.44%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 28, 2026

Last update for Bender: September 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,147 in Ubud, Bali versus $304 in Bender. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 91% higher in Bender, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $18.00 in Bender. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $136 – making Bender 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 Bender: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 100%, 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 $2,062 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,029 in Bender. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bender, 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 $35.00 in Ubud, Bali and $18.00 in Bender. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 110% 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 Bender, where all-in costs run around $686, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,374. In Bender it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bender – 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 Bender. 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.