Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Bismarck, ND

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,331 a month against $2,355 in Bismarck, ND, rent and utilities included – about $12,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Bismarck, ND, United States
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,331
/mo nomad
Bismarck, ND
🇺🇸 United States
$2,355
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Bismarck, ND

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 Bismarck, ND actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,331 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,355 in Bismarck, ND.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,331
  • Bismarck, ND $2,355

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,453 in Bismarck, ND.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,255
  • Bismarck, ND $3,453

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,180 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,551 in Bismarck, ND.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,180
  • Bismarck, ND $4,551

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 44% less than in Bismarck, ND, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 2% below, Bismarck, ND is 74% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Bismarck, ND
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.38 Rp 61.2K
$29.75 $29.75
-88.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.65 Rp 628.6K
$69.5 $69.5
-50.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.57 Rp 101.1K
$17.29 $17.29
-67.78%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.5K
$6.16 $6.16
-57.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 Rp 27.9K
$2.60 $2.60
-40.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 Rp 11.6K
$1.80 $1.80
-64.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.67 Rp 48.4K
$5.45 $5.45
-51.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 Rp 77.3K
$6.95 $6.95
-38.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Bismarck, ND
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 Rp 26.5K
$1.00 $1.00
46.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 Rp 41.6K
$2.59 $2.59
-11.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 20.1K
$2.13 $2.13
-47.89%
Eggs
$2.10 Rp 38.1K
$2.68 $2.68
-21.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 Rp 289.2K
$7.87 $7.87
102.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 Rp 70.4K
$12.98 $12.98
-70.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.40 Rp 206.8K
$16.16 $16.16
-29.46%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 64.4K
$3.48 $3.48
2.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 27.9K
$1.72 $1.72
-10.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
$3.11 $3.11
-28.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
$4.40 $4.40
-55.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 Rp 33.7K
$1.90 $1.90
-2.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 43.9K
$2.64 $2.64
-8.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.6K
$2.20 $2.20
-53.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,475
$2.80 $2.80
-81.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.20 Rp 39.9K
$8.63 $8.63
-74.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.79 Rp 395.2K
$20.29 $20.29
7.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 Rp 42.2K
$1.82 $1.82
28.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
$3.93 $3.93
-24.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Bismarck, ND
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,542
$1.53 $1.53
-83.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 148.3K
$35.49 $35.49
-76.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,941
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,489
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 101.6K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$0.92 $0.92
-9.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K Rp 443.5M
$27.1K $27.1K
-9.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 575.0M
$22.6K $22.6K
40.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Bismarck, ND
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
$207 $207
-62.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.14 Rp 111.5K
$73.9 $73.9
-91.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.92 Rp 343.1K
$83.7 $83.7
-77.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Bismarck, ND
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 Rp 925.0K
$33.94 $33.94
50.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.25 Rp 331.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 79.5K
$12.06 $12.06
-63.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Bismarck, ND
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$492 Rp 8.9M
$809 $809
-39.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K Rp 221.7M
$9,125 $9,125
33.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Bismarck, ND
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.16 Rp 819.2K
$66.3 $66.3
-31.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.89 Rp 632.9K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
$95.3 $95.3
-17.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$79.6 $79.6
-2.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Bismarck, ND
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 Rp 19.5M
$1,010 $1,010
6.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 Rp 12.1M
$995 $995
-33.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,510 Rp 63.7M
$1,526 $1,526
130.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,671 Rp 30.3M
$1,631 $1,631
2.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,340 Rp 42.4M
$2,440 $2,440
-4.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,236 Rp 40.6M
$1,971 $1,971
13.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Bismarck, ND
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$4,378 $4,378
-96.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
6.84
101.46%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: November 1, 2026

Last update for Bismarck, ND: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$665
Bismarck, ND
$995 49.6% $330
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$279
Bismarck, ND
$365 30.6% $86
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$106
Bismarck, ND
$109 * 2.1% $2.2
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Bismarck, ND
$423 300% $317
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$103
Bismarck, ND
$365 256% $262
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$60
Bismarck, ND
$58 2.8% $1.7
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Bismarck, ND
$42 * 248% $30

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,078 in Ubud, Bali and $1,010 in Bismarck, ND. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bismarck, ND pays about 26 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $35 in Ubud, Bali vs $70 in Bismarck, ND for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $279 vs $365 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇺🇸 Bismarck, ND
🕒 Local time
04:03 4:03 AM
14:03 2:03 PM
14 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
58,333
Exchange rates and currency converter

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).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.894 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Bismarck, ND 14,560 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Bismarck, ND

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 Bismarck, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Bismarck, ND?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,331 in Ubud, Bali and $2,355 in Bismarck, ND, so Ubud, Bali is about 44% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 96% 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 do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Bismarck, ND?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,078 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,010 in Bismarck, ND. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Bismarck, ND. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $35 versus $70 in Bismarck, ND. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is feasible on a $1,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Ubud, Bali is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Bismarck, ND?
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.
Is Ubud, Bali or Bismarck, ND safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Bismarck, ND are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
How do I decide between Ubud, Bali and Bismarck, ND?
It comes down to priorities – Ubud, Bali wins on affordability, Bismarck, ND on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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