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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,394 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $396 in Bhaktapur, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,551 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $639 in Bhaktapur, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,708 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $882 in Bhaktapur, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 252% more than Bhaktapur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Bhaktapur is 70% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Bhaktapur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.40 Rp 60.2K
$1.78 NPR 269
91.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.38 Rp 573.6K
$18.81 NPR 2,847
72.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.00 Rp 88.6K
$3.72 NPR 563
34.41%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 50.0K
$0.99 NPR 150
184.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.4K
$0.50 NPR 75.3
176.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.0K
$0.17 NPR 25.66
329.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.98 Rp 52.8K
$1.79 NPR 271
66.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97 Rp 70.3K
$1.87 NPR 283
112.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Bhaktapur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 Rp 31.8K
$0.71 NPR 107
152.11%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 43.7K
$0.54 NPR 81.9
355.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.2K
$0.94 NPR 142
27.66%
Eggs
$2.39 Rp 42.3K
$1.85 NPR 280
29.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.40 Rp 255.1K
$3.61 NPR 546
298.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.28 Rp 75.9K
$3.09 NPR 467
38.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.82 Rp 209.4K
$6.15 NPR 931
92.20%
Apples (1kg)
$3.78 Rp 67.0K
$2.26 NPR 342
67.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 28.9K
$1.06 NPR 160
53.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.80 Rp 49.6K
$1.25 NPR 190
124.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 Rp 40.0K
$0.70 NPR 105
222.86%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 Rp 35.3K
$0.52 NPR 78.5
284.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.21 Rp 39.2K
$0.67 NPR 101
229.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 Rp 18.9K
$0.38 NPR 57.8
181.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.5K
$0.23 NPR 34.93
230.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 55.4K
$2.84 NPR 429
10.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.81 Rp 421.9K
$5.76 NPR 871
313.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 Rp 50.3K
$2.17 NPR 329
30.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.2K
$2.49 NPR 377
11.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Bhaktapur
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,726
$0.15 NPR 22.29
80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.37 Rp 148.2K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,034
$2.24 NPR 339
-79.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,578
$1.05 NPR 159
-59.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.98 Rp 105.9K
$3.67 NPR 555
62.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
$1.24 NPR 188
-35.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8K Rp 457.2M
$31.6K NPR 4.8M
-18.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8K Rp 563.4M
$40.4K NPR 6.1M
-21.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Bhaktapur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
$32.42 NPR 4,905
149.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.14 Rp 73.3K
$4.91 NPR 743
-15.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.12 Rp 427.2K
$9.87 NPR 1,494
144.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Bhaktapur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.8 Rp 1.7M
$18.29 NPR 2,767
434.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.64 Rp 117.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 71.5K
$3.05 NPR 461
32.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Bhaktapur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.3M
$18.38 NPR 2,781
1516.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,590 Rp 116.7M
$3,752 NPR 567.7K
75.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Bhaktapur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 Rp 976.8K
$18.12 NPR 2,742
204.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.51 Rp 682.1K
$27.59 NPR 4,174
39.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$57.6 NPR 8,719
49.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.0 Rp 1.4M
$39.74 NPR 6,013
96.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Bhaktapur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$985 Rp 17.5M
$106 NPR 16.1K
825.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 Rp 11.8M
$64.2 NPR 9,707
936.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,446 Rp 61.0M
$203 NPR 30.8K
1594.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,042 Rp 36.2M
$144 NPR 21.8K
1317.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,829 Rp 50.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,282 Rp 40.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Bhaktapur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$169 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
12.08
9.93%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026

Last update for Bhaktapur: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Ubud, Bali versus $106 in Bhaktapur. 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 $19.00 in Bhaktapur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $299 vs $129 – making Bhaktapur 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 Bhaktapur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bhaktapur cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 252%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,091 per month in Ubud, Bali and $594 in Bhaktapur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bhaktapur, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali vs Bhaktapur?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,394 in Ubud, Bali and $396 in Bhaktapur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $297 per month in Ubud, Bali and $18.38 in Bhaktapur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Bhaktapur?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bhaktapur, where all-in costs run around $396, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,394. In Bhaktapur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Bhaktapur more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bhaktapur – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Bhaktapur?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Bhaktapur. 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.

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