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: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,475 in Bocas del Toro.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,065 in Bocas del Toro.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,275 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,654 in Bocas del Toro.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 7% less than in Bocas del Toro, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 0% above, Bocas del Toro 7% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

$9.34 PAB 9.34

-64.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

$50.2 PAB 50.2

-28.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

$10.12 PAB 10.12

-44.37%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

$3.93 PAB 3.93

-28.24%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$1.70 PAB 1.70

2.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$1.59 PAB 1.59

-49.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

$1.96 PAB 1.96

55.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$4.03 PAB 4.03

6.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

$1.98 PAB 1.98

-18.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

$3.76 PAB 3.76

-39.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

Eggs

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

$2.58 PAB 2.58

-15.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

$17.25 PAB 17.25

2.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

$8.81 PAB 8.81

-54.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

$8.38 PAB 8.38

45.35%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

$9.66 PAB 9.66

-62.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

$1.46 PAB 1.46

12.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

$4.88 PAB 4.88

-59.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

$3.29 PAB 3.29

-44.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,560

$1.64 PAB 1.64

-67.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$2.89 PAB 2.89

-19.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

$2.57 PAB 2.57

19.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,631

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

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

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

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

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

$40.10 PAB 40.10

-83.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

$35.02 PAB 35.02

-46.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

$759 PAB 759

46.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

$902 PAB 902

-23.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

$1,204 PAB 1,204

202.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

$1,208 PAB 1,208

41.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 2.9M

$699 PAB 699

-76.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Bocas del Toro: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali and $759 in Bocas del Toro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bocas del Toro pays 318% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $50.0 in Bocas del Toro for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $319 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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 Bocas del Toro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali and Bocas del Toro differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($1,378 vs $1,475 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

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: $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $759 in Bocas del Toro. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $50.0 in Bocas del Toro. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,475 in Bocas del Toro – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,475 in Bocas del Toro, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Bocas del Toro. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali 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.

Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Bocas del Toro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.