Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Bhisho

For one person, living is cheaper in Bhisho: $1,142 a month against $1,331 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $2,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ubud, Bali outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Bhisho, South Africa
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,331
/mo nomad
Bhisho
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,142
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Bhisho

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Bhisho actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,331 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,142 in Bhisho.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,331
  • Bhisho $1,142

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,802 in Bhisho.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,255
  • Bhisho $1,802

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,180 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,462 in Bhisho.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,180
  • Bhisho $2,462

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 17% more expensive than in Bhisho, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ubud, Bali 2% lower, Bhisho 16% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Bhisho
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.38 Rp 61.2K
$10.99 R 183
-69.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.65 Rp 628.6K
$42.60 R 710
-18.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.57 Rp 101.1K
$5.88 R 98.1
-5.27%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.5K
$2.06 R 34.28
27.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 Rp 27.9K
$1.02 R 16.98
50.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 Rp 11.6K
$0.73 R 12.21
-12.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.67 Rp 48.4K
$2.66 R 44.24
0.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 Rp 77.3K
$3.18 R 53.0
33.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Bhisho
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 Rp 26.5K
$1.13 R 18.87
29.20%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 Rp 41.6K
$1.04 R 17.37
120.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 20.1K
$1.51 R 25.09
-26.49%
Eggs
$2.10 Rp 38.1K
$2.71 R 45.09
-22.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 Rp 289.2K
$8.81 R 147
80.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 Rp 70.4K
$5.20 R 86.7
-25.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.40 Rp 206.8K
$8.53 R 142
33.65%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 64.4K
$2.18 R 36.32
62.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 27.9K
$1.53 R 25.49
0.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
$1.68 R 27.92
32.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
$1.73 R 28.86
13.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 Rp 33.7K
$1.67 R 27.81
11.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 43.9K
$1.42 R 23.70
70.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.6K
$1.25 R 20.78
-18.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,475
$0.98 R 16.38
-46.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.20 Rp 39.9K
$3.30 R 55.0
-33.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.79 Rp 395.2K
$4.70 R 78.4
363.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 Rp 42.2K
$1.22 R 20.25
90.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
$1.76 R 29.36
68.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Bhisho
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,542
$1.78 R 29.64
-85.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 148.3K
$23.99 R 400
-65.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,941
$0.83 R 13.75
-46.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,489
$0.50 R 8.33
-6.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 101.6K
$8.31 R 139
-32.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$1.47 R 24.53
-43.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K Rp 443.5M
$34.4K R 573.1K
-28.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 575.0M
$35.4K R 589.9K
-10.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Bhisho
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
$124 R 2,073
-37.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.14 Rp 111.5K
$34.58 R 576
-82.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.92 Rp 343.1K
$45.53 R 759
-58.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Bhisho
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 Rp 925.0K
$32.31 R 538
57.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.25 Rp 331.0K
$11.98 R 200
52.34%
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 79.5K
$10.38 R 173
-57.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Bhisho
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$492 Rp 8.9M
$177 R 2,955
177.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K Rp 221.7M
$6,036 R 100.6K
102.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Bhisho
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.16 Rp 819.2K
$70.7 R 1,178
-36.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.89 Rp 632.9K
$38.97 R 649
-10.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
$110 R 1,834
-28.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$97.3 R 1,621
-19.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Bhisho
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 Rp 19.5M
$398 R 6,625
171.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 Rp 12.1M
$355 R 5,908
87.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,510 Rp 63.7M
$717 R 12.0K
389.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,671 Rp 30.3M
$724 R 12.1K
130.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,340 Rp 42.4M
$771 R 12.8K
203.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,236 Rp 40.6M
$671 R 11.2K
233.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Bhisho
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$3,243 R 54.0K
-94.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
11.94
15.41%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: November 1, 2026

Last update for Bhisho: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$665
Bhisho
$355 46.7% $310
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$279
Bhisho
$196 30% $84
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$106
Bhisho
$143 34.2% $36
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Bhisho
$157 48.4% $51
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$103
Bhisho
$205 99.5% $102
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$60
Bhisho
$53 11.2% $6.7
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Bhisho
$34 188% $22

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,078 in Ubud, Bali and $398 in Bhisho. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bhisho pays about 19 times more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35 in Ubud, Bali vs $43 in Bhisho. Groceries flip the comparison at $279 vs $196, with Bhisho cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇿🇦 Bhisho
🕒 Local time
06:29 6:29 AM
00:29 12:29 AM
6 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
137,287
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZAR, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18,140 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,286 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.93 EUR).

South African Rand exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 16.66 ZAR (100 ZAR = 6 USD). 1 EUR = 18.64 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.37 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Bhisho 9,290 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Bhisho

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Bhisho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Bhisho?
Bhisho wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Bhisho the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Bhisho?
On paper, salaries run 95% lower in Ubud, Bali. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Bhisho?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,078 in Ubud, Bali versus $398 in Bhisho. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Bhisho?
Childcare runs $492 in Ubud, Bali versus $177 in Bhisho. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Bhisho?
Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Bhisho?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Bhisho is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ubud, Bali or Bhisho?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?