Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Bocas del Toro Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Bocas del Toro

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,407 in Bocas del Toro.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,997 in Bocas del Toro.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,588 in Bocas del Toro.

Monthly costs are close between Ubud, Bali and Bocas del Toro; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 5% above, Bocas del Toro 5% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

$9.73 PAB 9.73

-64.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

$50.6 PAB 50.6

-36.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

$9.86 PAB 9.86

-50.91%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

$4.06 PAB 4.06

-32.27%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

$1.80 PAB 1.80

-23.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$1.58 PAB 1.58

-52.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

$1.98 PAB 1.98

51.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

$3.99 PAB 3.99

-3.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$3.97 PAB 3.97

-38.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

$2.64 PAB 2.64

-7.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

$16.70 PAB 16.70

-13.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

$8.78 PAB 8.78

-50.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

$8.41 PAB 8.41

42.45%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

$4.61 PAB 4.61

-19.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$1.53 PAB 1.53

6.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

$5.11 PAB 5.11

-56.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

$3.38 PAB 3.38

-43.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$1.64 PAB 1.64

-56.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

$2.82 PAB 2.82

-1.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

$2.44 PAB 2.44

11.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,778

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,659

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,532

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

$30.35 PAB 30.35

-86.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

$34.41 PAB 34.41

-29.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 Rp 5.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$741 PAB 741

33.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$897 PAB 897

-24.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

$1,191 PAB 1,191

183.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$1,195 PAB 1,195

71.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$697 PAB 697

-76.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Bocas del Toro: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $741 in Bocas del Toro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bocas del Toro pays 318% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $51.0 in Bocas del Toro. Groceries flip the comparison at $297 vs $276, with Bocas del Toro cheaper for home cooking.

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 Bocas del Toro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

On paper, salaries run 318% lower in Bocas del Toro. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $741 in Bocas del Toro. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Bocas del Toro – a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,407 in Bocas del Toro versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bocas del Toro but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Bocas del Toro the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Bocas del Toro are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Bocas del Toro wins on affordability, Ubud, Bali on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.