Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Birmingham, AL Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Birmingham, AL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,490 in Birmingham, AL, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,867 in Birmingham, AL, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $5,245 in Birmingham, AL, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 43% cheaper than Birmingham, AL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Birmingham, AL sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 5%, Birmingham, AL by 86%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Birmingham, AL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
$18.19 $18.19
-81.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
$58.9 $58.9
-45.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
$10.04 $10.04
-51.79%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
$5.62 $5.62
-51.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
$2.17 $2.17
-36.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$2.38 $2.38
-68.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
$5.98 $5.98
-50.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
$7.33 $7.33
-47.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Birmingham, AL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
$1.10 $1.10
58.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
$3.50 $3.50
-29.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$3.99 $3.99
-70.68%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
$4.27 $4.27
-43.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
$11.23 $11.23
29.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
$11.24 $11.24
-61.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
$14.62 $14.62
-18.06%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
$6.13 $6.13
-39.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$1.92 $1.92
-15.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
$7.38 $7.38
-62.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$5.13 $5.13
-56.34%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
$4.10 $4.10
-53.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
$4.98 $4.98
-54.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$2.54 $2.54
-58.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$2.74 $2.74
-73.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
$6.93 $6.93
-52.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
$14.74 $14.74
57.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$2.25 $2.25
23.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$3.52 $3.52
-22.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Birmingham, AL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,786
$1.46 $1.46
-81.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
$54.6 $54.6
-85.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,675
$3.97 $3.97
-87.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,545
$1.57 $1.57
-73.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
$30.60 $30.60
-79.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$0.81 $0.81
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
$31.0K $31.0K
-14.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
$26.2K $26.2K
23.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Birmingham, AL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$211 $211
-62.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
$49.11 $49.11
-91.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
$53.3 $53.3
-54.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Birmingham, AL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
$46.98 $46.98
109.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
$20.32 $20.32
-68.80%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
$13.52 $13.52
-70.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Birmingham, AL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
$1,214 $1,214
-74.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
$18.1K $18.1K
-63.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Birmingham, AL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
$63.5 $63.5
-14.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
$27.62 $27.62
36.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
$106 $106
-18.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
$99.0 $99.0
-22.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Birmingham, AL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
$1,524 $1,524
-34.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$1,137 $1,137
-40.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
$2,622 $2,622
28.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
$2,316 $2,316
-11.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
$2,934 $2,934
-4.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
$1,871 $1,871
19.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Birmingham, AL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 3.0M
$3,162 $3,162
-94.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6.49
104.62%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Birmingham, AL: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,524 in Birmingham, AL. 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 1794% higher in Birmingham, AL, 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $59.0 in Birmingham, AL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $423 – 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 Birmingham, AL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ubud, Bali and in Birmingham, AL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, $2,490 in Birmingham, AL – roughly 77% apart. Birmingham, AL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Birmingham, AL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,735 in Birmingham, AL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ubud, Bali and Birmingham, AL?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Birmingham, AL?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,408 in Ubud, Bali and $2,490 in Birmingham, AL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Birmingham, AL?
Public transport costs about 573% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,408, than in Birmingham, AL at $2,490. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Birmingham, AL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Birmingham, AL?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,408 in Ubud, Bali to $2,490 in Birmingham, AL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Ubud, Bali or Birmingham, AL safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Ubud, Bali and Birmingham, AL?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Birmingham, AL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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