😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $897 in Bitola.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,351 in Bitola.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,805 in Bitola.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 57% more expensive than in Bitola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Bitola is 33% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Bitola
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45Rp 62.0K
$5.54MKD 297
-37.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34Rp 580.1K
$27.95MKD 1,499
15.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.84Rp 86.9K
$5.17MKD 277
-6.38%
Cappuccino
$2.75Rp 49.3K
$1.97MKD 105
39.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38Rp 24.8K
$1.80MKD 96.4
-23.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75Rp 13.5K
$1.22MKD 65.3
-38.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 53.7K
$2.21MKD 118
35.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 69.1K
$2.74MKD 147
40.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Bitola
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 31.1K
$1.40MKD 75.1
24.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.46Rp 44.1K
$0.72MKD 38.52
241.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17Rp 21.0K
$1.77MKD 95.1
-33.90%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 43.6K
$2.01MKD 108
20.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.50Rp 260.2K
$10.35MKD 555
40.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.35Rp 78.0K
$7.12MKD 382
-38.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.98Rp 214.9K
$13.66MKD 733
-12.30%
Apples(1kg)
$3.72Rp 66.7K
$1.03MKD 55.2
261.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.2K
$1.44MKD 77.1
13.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.74Rp 49.2K
$1.25MKD 67.0
119.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24Rp 40.2K
$1.61MKD 86.5
39.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92Rp 34.4K
$0.91MKD 48.71
110.99%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28Rp 40.8K
$1.34MKD 71.7
70.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.1K
$0.54MKD 29.22
96.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.9K
$0.56MKD 30.30
28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29Rp 58.9K
$3.05MKD 164
7.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.19Rp 416.1K
$5.95MKD 319
289.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 49.8K
$0.96MKD 51.4
189.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73Rp 49.0K
$1.82MKD 97.7
50.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Bitola
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,778
$0.55MKD 29.27
-50.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.11Rp 145.4K
$16.81MKD 902
-51.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,659
$1.11MKD 59.8
-56.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,532
$0.49MKD 26.15
-14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.22Rp 111.6K
$6.49MKD 348
-4.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.6K
$1.43MKD 76.5
-43.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KRp 477.4M
$31.9KMKD 1.7M
-16.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2KRp 577.4M
$33.3KMKD 1.8M
-3.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Bitola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$145MKD 7,769
-45.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07Rp 73.0K
$17.32MKD 929
-76.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33Rp 436.4K
$15.69MKD 842
55.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Bitola
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.6Rp 1.8M
$24.19MKD 1,298
307.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34Rp 113.7K
$6.47MKD 347
-2.01%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99Rp 71.5K
$4.77MKD 256
-16.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Bitola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305Rp 5.5M
$219MKD 11.7K
39.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,642Rp 119.2M
$1,211MKD 65.0K
448.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Bitola
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1Rp 971.2K
$78.3MKD 4,200
-30.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81Rp 678.2K
$47.21MKD 2,532
-19.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.6M
$74.1MKD 3,975
17.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4Rp 1.4M
$111MKD 5,975
-31.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Bitola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$992Rp 17.8M
$285MKD 15.3K
248.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$673Rp 12.1M
$196MKD 10.5K
243.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,375Rp 60.5M
$606MKD 32.5K
457.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,050Rp 36.8M
$312MKD 16.7K
556.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,805Rp 50.3M
$1,727MKD 92.6K
62.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,227Rp 39.9M
$1,181MKD 63.3K
88.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Bitola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167Rp 3.0M
$776MKD 41.7K
-78.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
7.1
87.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Last update for Bitola: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $285 in Bitola. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bitola pays 365% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $28.00 in Bitola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $205 per month, with Bitola 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 Bitola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Bitola?
Ubud, Bali and Bitola differ by about 57% in total monthly costs ($1,408 vs $897 including rent). Bitola is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 365% lower in Bitola. 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 Bitola?
Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $285 in Bitola. 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 45% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Bitola – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $897 in Bitola versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bitola but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Bitola the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Bitola?
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 Bitola safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Bitola are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Bitola?
Expats usually find Bitola gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% 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