😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $899 in Bitola.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,347 in Bitola.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,273 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,794 in Bitola.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 55% more expensive than in Bitola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 2% above, Bitola is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Bitola
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.37Rp 59.7K
$5.58MKD 294
-39.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.59Rp 682.4K
$28.09MKD 1,481
37.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.52Rp 97.6K
$5.32MKD 281
3.76%
Cappuccino
$2.64Rp 46.8K
$1.92MKD 101
37.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67Rp 29.6K
$1.80MKD 94.9
-7.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77Rp 13.6K
$1.45MKD 76.5
-46.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.63Rp 46.6K
$2.32MKD 122
13.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28Rp 75.7K
$2.62MKD 138
63.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Bitola
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55Rp 27.3K
$1.40MKD 73.6
10.71%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22Rp 39.3K
$0.68MKD 35.69
226.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13Rp 19.9K
$1.72MKD 90.7
-34.30%
Eggs
$2.09Rp 36.9K
$1.99MKD 105
5.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.39Rp 307.6K
$10.25MKD 540
69.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.87Rp 68.4K
$7.25MKD 382
-46.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.55Rp 221.9K
$13.88MKD 732
-9.58%
Apples(1kg)
$3.62Rp 63.9K
$1.05MKD 55.1
244.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56Rp 27.6K
$1.40MKD 74.1
11.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.35Rp 41.6K
$1.25MKD 65.9
88.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06Rp 36.4K
$1.64MKD 86.4
25.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90Rp 33.6K
$0.98MKD 51.7
93.88%
Onion(1kg)
$2.34Rp 41.3K
$1.36MKD 71.5
72.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03Rp 18.2K
$0.59MKD 31.04
74.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,809
$0.55MKD 28.89
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25Rp 39.8K
$3.10MKD 163
-27.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.81Rp 421.0K
$5.97MKD 315
298.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31Rp 40.9K
$0.96MKD 50.6
140.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80Rp 49.5K
$1.83MKD 96.5
53.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Bitola
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,816
$0.58MKD 30.60
-53.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.66Rp 153.2K
$16.87MKD 889
-48.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,515
$1.15MKD 60.7
-58.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 7,887
$0.63MKD 33.07
-28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.72Rp 101.1K
$6.54MKD 345
-12.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76Rp 13.4K
$1.49MKD 78.5
-48.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5KRp 433.0M
$32.4KMKD 1.7M
-24.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KRp 568.0M
$33.5KMKD 1.8M
-3.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Bitola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.6Rp 1.5M
$152MKD 8,018
-45.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.46Rp 114.2K
$14.72MKD 776
-56.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.99Rp 335.9K
$13.25MKD 699
43.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Bitola
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.0Rp 989.8K
$22.63MKD 1,193
147.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.62Rp 329.2K
$6.77MKD 357
175.04%
Cinema Ticket
$4.28Rp 75.7K
$4.84MKD 255
-11.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Bitola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$487Rp 8.6M
$218MKD 11.5K
122.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,856Rp 103.6M
$1,220MKD 64.3K
380.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Bitola
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.56Rp 805.6K
$78.2MKD 4,125
-41.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.38Rp 643.3K
$48.84MKD 2,575
-25.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0Rp 1.4M
$76.5MKD 4,031
7.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4Rp 1.4M
$115MKD 6,074
-30.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Bitola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,117Rp 19.7M
$271MKD 14.3K
311.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$701Rp 12.4M
$196MKD 10.3K
257.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,537Rp 62.5M
$417MKD 22.0K
747.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,762Rp 31.2M
$302MKD 15.9K
483.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,826Rp 50.0M
$1,784MKD 94.1K
58.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,292Rp 40.5M
$1,181MKD 62.3K
93.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Bitola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$170Rp 3.0M
$801MKD 42.2K
-78.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
6.45
113.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Last update for Bitola: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali and $271 in Bitola. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bitola pays 372% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $28.00 in Bitola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $206 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 55% in total monthly costs ($1,396 vs $899 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 372% 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: $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $271 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 42% 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 $39.00 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 $899 in Bitola versus $1,396 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 55% 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