Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Bethesda, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Bethesda, MD

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,374 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,406 in Bethesda, MD, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,313 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $5,054 in Bethesda, MD, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,252 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $6,703 in Bethesda, MD, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 60% cheaper than Bethesda, MD, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Bethesda, MD sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 2%, Bethesda, MD by 152%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

$19.78 $19.78

-83.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.33 Rp 631.4K

$99.0 $99.0

-64.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.33 Rp 95.3K

$11.11 $11.11

-52.03%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$5.45 $5.45

-49.54%

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

$1.73 Rp 30.9K

$3.01 $3.01

-42.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

$2.42 $2.42

-66.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.7K

$6.92 $6.92

-57.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 Rp 79.3K

$9.15 $9.15

-51.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

$1.21 $1.21

23.97%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 Rp 41.1K

$4.16 $4.16

-44.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 Rp 19.6K

$3.92 $3.92

-71.94%

Eggs

$2.16 Rp 38.6K

$4.74 $4.74

-54.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.09 Rp 305.4K

$16.97 $16.97

0.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.88 Rp 69.3K

$15.85 $15.85

-75.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.92 Rp 213.0K

$23.14 $23.14

-48.49%

Apples (1kg)

$3.57 Rp 63.7K

$4.70 $4.70

-24.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 Rp 28.3K

$1.42 $1.42

11.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 Rp 42.2K

$4.23 $4.23

-44.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.1K

$4.15 $4.15

-52.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$2.17 $2.17

-16.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.39 Rp 42.7K

$2.76 $2.76

-13.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 Rp 18.2K

$2.39 $2.39

-57.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 Rp 8,782

$2.48 $2.48

-80.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 40.1K

$10.46 $10.46

-78.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.30 Rp 398.5K

$18.17 $18.17

22.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 Rp 42.3K

$1.74 $1.74

36.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 51.7K

$2.89 $2.89

0.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,452

$2.97 $2.97

-91.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.55 Rp 152.8K

$101 $101

-91.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 Rp 7,897

$4.10 $4.10

-89.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,547

$1.21 $1.21

-65.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.66 Rp 101.2K

$24.50 $24.50

-76.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$0.93 $0.93

-12.90%

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

$23.7K Rp 424.2M

$23.3K $23.3K

1.74%

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

$31.0K Rp 553.6M

$25.6K $25.6K

21.09%

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

$82.3 Rp 1.5M

$164 $164

-49.95%

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

$6.30 Rp 112.6K

$39.37 $39.37

-84.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.63 Rp 333.0K

$61.3 $61.3

-69.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 Rp 978.1K

$103 $103

-46.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.45 Rp 329.7K

$30.17 $30.17

-38.85%

Cinema Ticket

$4.24 Rp 75.8K

$15.79 $15.79

-73.15%

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

$484 Rp 8.7M

$1,628 $1,628

-70.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,590 Rp 99.9M

$35.7K $35.7K

-84.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.77 Rp 818.0K

$68.7 $68.7

-33.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.69 Rp 637.9K

$57.7 $57.7

-38.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 Rp 1.4M

$102 $102

-23.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.1 Rp 1.4M

$144 $144

-44.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,147 Rp 20.5M

$2,321 $2,321

-50.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$678 Rp 12.1M

$1,858 $1,858

-63.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,504 Rp 62.6M

$4,112 $4,112

-14.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,688 Rp 30.2M

$3,215 $3,215

-47.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,788 Rp 49.8M

$6,000 $6,000

-53.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,257 Rp 40.3M

$5,466 $5,466

-58.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 2.9M

$8,694 $8,694

-98.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

6.27

119.78%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 28, 2026

Last update for Bethesda, MD: September 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,147 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,321 in Bethesda, MD. 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 5167% higher in Bethesda, MD, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $99.0 in Bethesda, MD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $460 – making Ubud, Bali 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 Bethesda, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Bethesda, MD is pricier by about 148%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $5,109 in Bethesda, MD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, 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 $99.0 in Bethesda, MD. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,374 in Ubud, Bali and $3,406 in Bethesda, MD. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,374, than in Bethesda, MD at $3,406. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bethesda, MD it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – 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 Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bethesda, MD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.