Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Bien Hoa

For one person, living is cheaper in Bien Hoa: $671 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $8,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Bien Hoa, Vietnam
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Bien Hoa
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$671
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Bien Hoa

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 Bien Hoa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,349 in Ubud, Bali versus $671 in Bien Hoa.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,349
  • Bien Hoa $671

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,305 in Ubud, Bali versus $921 in Bien Hoa.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,305
  • Bien Hoa $921

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,261 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,172 in Bien Hoa.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,261
  • Bien Hoa $1,172

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 101% more expensive than in Bien Hoa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Bien Hoa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 60.3K
$1.90 ₫48.9K
74.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.64 Rp 646.5K
$11.66 ₫300.9K
205.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 Rp 100.4K
$4.72 ₫121.9K
17.16%
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.3K
$1.17 ₫30.2K
132.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
$0.43 ₫11.0K
295.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
$0.21 ₫5,417
261.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 48.1K
$0.52 ₫13.3K
409.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 Rp 79.5K
$0.78 ₫20.2K
461.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Bien Hoa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 27.0K
$1.23 ₫31.8K
21.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 Rp 41.3K
$0.79 ₫20.5K
188.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$0.94 ₫24.2K
26.60%
Eggs
$2.04 Rp 36.9K
$1.44 ₫37.1K
41.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.70 Rp 321.1K
$11.93 ₫307.7K
48.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 71.9K
$1.96 ₫50.5K
102.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 Rp 221.1K
$9.82 ₫253.4K
24.13%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 66.3K
$2.06 ₫53.2K
77.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.5K
$1.24 ₫32.1K
22.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
$1.18 ₫30.3K
88.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
$0.94 ₫24.2K
109.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.5K
$1.18 ₫30.5K
56.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 44.0K
$1.15 ₫29.6K
110.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
$0.41 ₫10.5K
141.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,313
$0.49 ₫12.7K
4.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 40.3K
$1.26 ₫32.4K
76.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 403.4K
$7.63 ₫197.0K
191.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 41.0K
$0.40 ₫10.2K
465.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
$0.80 ₫20.7K
271.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Bien Hoa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,553
$0.31 ₫8,119
-19.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.82 Rp 141.9K
$6.53 ₫168.4K
19.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,972
$0.49 ₫12.6K
-10.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,801
$0.56 ₫14.4K
-23.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 Rp 98.1K
$1.13 ₫29.2K
378.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
$0.86 ₫22.1K
-4.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 432.4M
$31.0K ₫800.4M
-23.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 575.9M
$29.5K ₫761.4M
7.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Bien Hoa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$50.9 ₫1.3M
55.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.9K
$4.13 ₫106.6K
56.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.58 Rp 337.0K
$6.59 ₫169.9K
181.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Bien Hoa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 Rp 897.5K
$10.97 ₫283.0K
351.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 Rp 320.1K
$7.86 ₫202.8K
124.55%
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 Rp 77.5K
$3.42 ₫88.3K
24.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Bien Hoa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.9M
$67.4 ₫1.7M
628.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,674 Rp 102.9M
$14.6K ₫376.4M
-61.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Bien Hoa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64 Rp 809.7K
$15.21 ₫392.4K
193.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 Rp 634.0K
$15.57 ₫401.8K
124.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$68.0 ₫1.8M
17.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$94.6 ₫2.4M
-16.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Bien Hoa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
$408 ₫10.5M
175.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 12.2M
$279 ₫7.2M
140.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,565 Rp 64.7M
$423 ₫10.9M
743.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
$305 ₫7.9M
464.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,732 Rp 49.5M
$2,244 ₫57.9M
21.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 Rp 41.4M
$1,241 ₫32.0M
84.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Bien Hoa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$315 ₫8.1M
-47.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
7.8
76.67%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Last update for Bien Hoa: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$672
Bien Hoa
$279 58.5% $393
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$288
Bien Hoa
$164 43.1% $124
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Bien Hoa
$50 53.5% $58
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Bien Hoa
$87 19% $20
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$104
Bien Hoa
$62 40.8% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$58
Bien Hoa
$18 69.3% $40
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Bien Hoa
$11 3.1% $0.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,125 in Ubud, Bali and $408 in Bien Hoa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bien Hoa pays 92% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36 in Ubud, Bali vs $12 in Bien Hoa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $164 per month, with Bien Hoa cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇻🇳 Bien Hoa
🕒 Local time
13:43 1:43 PM
12:43 12:43 PM
1 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
1,272,235
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

VND, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18,138 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,252 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 25,802 VND (100,000 VND = 3.88 USD). 1 EUR = 28,810 VND (100,000 VND = 3.47 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Bien Hoa 2,360 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Bien Hoa

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 Bien Hoa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bien Hoa cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Bien Hoa is about 50% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Bien Hoa?
On paper, salaries run 48% 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.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Bien Hoa?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,125 in Ubud, Bali versus $408 in Bien Hoa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Bien Hoa?
Supermarket bills run roughly 76% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or in Bien Hoa?
Dining out is cheaper in Bien Hoa – a meal for two runs $12 versus $36 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Bien Hoa?
At $671 in Bien Hoa versus $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bien Hoa but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Bien Hoa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Ubud, Bali or in Bien Hoa?
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.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Bien Hoa?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Bien Hoa are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Bien Hoa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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