😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $658 in Binjai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,014 in Binjai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,370 in Binjai.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 114% more expensive than in Binjai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Binjai is 51% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Binjai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45Rp 62.0K
$1.56Rp 28.0K
121.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34Rp 580.1K
$12.16Rp 218.2K
165.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.84Rp 86.9K
$3.30Rp 59.2K
46.67%
Cappuccino
$2.75Rp 49.3K
$1.67Rp 30.0K
64.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38Rp 24.8K
$0.52Rp 9,291
165.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75Rp 13.5K
$0.26Rp 4,621
188.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 53.7K
$2.51Rp 45.1K
19.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 69.1K
$3.44Rp 61.7K
11.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Binjai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 31.1K
$1.21Rp 21.7K
43.80%
White Bread(500g)
$2.46Rp 44.1K
$1.17Rp 20.9K
110.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17Rp 21.0K
$0.92Rp 16.5K
27.17%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 43.6K
$1.60Rp 28.8K
51.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.50Rp 260.2K
$7.90Rp 141.8K
83.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.35Rp 78.0K
$3.10Rp 55.6K
40.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.98Rp 214.9K
$7.68Rp 137.8K
55.99%
Apples(1kg)
$3.72Rp 66.7K
$2.36Rp 42.3K
57.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.2K
$1.50Rp 26.9K
8.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.74Rp 49.2K
$1.88Rp 33.8K
45.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24Rp 40.2K
$1.50Rp 26.8K
49.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92Rp 34.4K
$1.32Rp 23.6K
45.45%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28Rp 40.8K
$1.94Rp 34.9K
17.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.1K
$0.92Rp 16.5K
15.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.9K
$0.45Rp 7,986
60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29Rp 58.9K
$2.44Rp 43.8K
34.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.19Rp 416.1K
$22.18Rp 397.9K
4.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 49.8K
$2.08Rp 37.4K
33.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73Rp 49.0K
$3.08Rp 55.2K
-11.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Binjai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,778
$0.32Rp 5,827
-15.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.11Rp 145.4K
$9.67Rp 173.5K
-16.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,659
$0.58Rp 10.3K
-17.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,532
$0.35Rp 6,242
20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.22Rp 111.6K
$2.83Rp 50.9K
119.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.6K
$0.84Rp 15.0K
-3.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KRp 477.4M
$24.6KRp 442.0M
8.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2KRp 577.4M
$28.1KRp 504.8M
14.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Binjai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$69.7Rp 1.2M
12.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07Rp 73.0K
$4.22Rp 75.7K
-3.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33Rp 436.4K
$22.82Rp 409.3K
6.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Binjai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.6Rp 1.8M
$22.77Rp 408.5K
333.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34Rp 113.7K
$6.27Rp 112.4K
1.12%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99Rp 71.5K
$3.15Rp 56.5K
26.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Binjai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305Rp 5.5M
$93.5Rp 1.7M
226.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,642Rp 119.2M
$7,504Rp 134.6M
-11.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Binjai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1Rp 971.2K
$41.97Rp 753.0K
29.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81Rp 678.2K
$30.59Rp 548.7K
23.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.6M
$67.9Rp 1.2M
27.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4Rp 1.4M
$74.2Rp 1.3M
2.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Binjai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$992Rp 17.8M
$260Rp 4.7M
281.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$673Rp 12.1M
$159Rp 2.9M
323.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,375Rp 60.5M
$578Rp 10.4M
484.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,050Rp 36.8M
$337Rp 6.0M
508.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,805Rp 50.3M
$1,292Rp 23.2M
117.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,227Rp 39.9M
$770Rp 13.8M
189.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Binjai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
9.15
45.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Last update for Binjai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $260 in Binjai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $12.00 in Binjai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $210 per month, with Binjai cheaper across the board.
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 Binjai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Binjai cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Binjai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 114% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,112 in Ubud, Bali and $987 in Binjai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Binjai?
Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $260 in Binjai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali and in Binjai?
All in, you'll spend $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $658 in Binjai – a 114% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Binjai runs roughly 19% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Binjai?
At $658 in Binjai versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Binjai but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Binjai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Binjai more family-friendly?
For families, Binjai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Binjai?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Binjai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Binjai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 114% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared