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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $656 in Benxi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $938 in Benxi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,221 in Benxi, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 119% more than Benxi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Benxi is 51% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

$2.77 ¥18.99

28.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

$20.51 ¥140

58.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$4.94 ¥33.82

2.63%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$2.59 ¥17.71

9.27%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$0.45 ¥3.12

197.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.29 ¥1.99

137.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$0.71 ¥4.88

321.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$1.65 ¥11.32

133.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$1.70 ¥11.65

2.35%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$1.14 ¥7.78

122.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$0.79 ¥5.43

50.63%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$1.11 ¥7.58

118.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

$9.16 ¥62.8

60.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$2.79 ¥19.10

49.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

$8.19 ¥56.1

45.79%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$1.40 ¥9.62

163.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$1.28 ¥8.80

25.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$1.54 ¥10.56

74.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

$1.22 ¥8.33

90.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$0.58 ¥3.97

229.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$1.77 ¥12.11

23.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$1.17 ¥8.01

-9.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$0.60 ¥4.11

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

$2.76 ¥18.91

13.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

$8.16 ¥55.9

187.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

$0.58 ¥3.99

372.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$0.91 ¥6.20

216.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$0.27 ¥1.85

7.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

$11.27 ¥77.2

-27.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$0.82 ¥5.62

-45.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

$0.26 ¥1.77

61.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

$3.53 ¥24.15

74.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$1.06 ¥7.23

-20.75%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

$17.9K ¥122.5K

46.77%

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

$16.5K ¥112.7K

97.32%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$51.8 ¥355

51.42%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$6.24 ¥42.71

-36.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$9.89 ¥67.8

146.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$62.7 ¥429

53.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

$7.59 ¥52.0

-16.34%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

$4.94 ¥33.82

-18.22%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$413 ¥2,828

-26.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

$8,426 ¥57.7K

-22.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

$27.40 ¥188

96.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$30.53 ¥209

24.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$55.9 ¥383

55.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$48.57 ¥333

62.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$127 ¥868

698.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$190 ¥1,302

254.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$246 ¥1,686

1277.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$139 ¥952

1410.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

$3,056 ¥20.9K

-2.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

$2,002 ¥13.7K

16.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$438 ¥3,002

-60.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

232.00%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Benxi: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $127 in Benxi. 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 153% higher in Benxi, 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $21.00 in Benxi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $167 – making Benxi 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 Benxi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 119% more than Benxi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $983 in Benxi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Ubud, Bali and $413 in Benxi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 78% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Benxi, where all-in costs run around $656, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In Benxi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Benxi costs $656 versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Benxi. 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.