Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Boone, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Boone, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,394 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,985 in Boone, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,551 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,722 in Boone, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,708 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,460 in Boone, NC.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 30% less than in Boone, NC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 5% above, Boone, NC 49% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 Rp 60.6K

$11.88 $11.88

-71.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.38 Rp 577.1K

$64.1 $64.1

-49.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.00 Rp 89.1K

$9.62 $9.62

-48.02%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 50.3K

$4.90 $4.90

-42.45%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.5K

$2.62 $2.62

-47.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.0K

$2.28 $2.28

-67.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 Rp 53.2K

$5.53 $5.53

-46.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 Rp 70.8K

$6.83 $6.83

-41.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 Rp 32.0K

$0.99 $0.99

80.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$3.66 $3.66

-32.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.4K

$4.37 $4.37

-72.54%

Eggs

$2.39 Rp 42.6K

$2.54 $2.54

-5.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 Rp 256.6K

$12.83 $12.83

12.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.28 Rp 76.4K

$14.02 $14.02

-69.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 Rp 210.6K

$10.82 $10.82

9.24%

Apples (1kg)

$3.78 Rp 67.4K

$6.38 $6.38

-40.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.1K

$1.98 $1.98

-17.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 Rp 49.9K

$4.38 $4.38

-36.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 Rp 40.3K

$3.60 $3.60

-37.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 Rp 35.6K

$3.36 $3.36

-40.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 Rp 39.4K

$3.07 $3.07

-28.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 Rp 19.1K

$1.71 $1.71

-37.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 Rp 13.6K

$2.28 $2.28

-66.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 55.7K

$7.19 $7.19

-56.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 424.4K

$12.77 $12.77

86.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 Rp 50.6K

$1.69 $1.69

68.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.5K

$3.06 $3.06

-9.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,755

$1.95 $1.95

-86.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 149.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,082

$3.52 $3.52

-87.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,624

$1.58 $1.58

-72.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 Rp 106.5K

$17.90 $17.90

-66.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

$0.77 $0.77

3.90%

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

$25.8K Rp 459.9M

$28.1K $28.1K

-8.05%

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

$31.8K Rp 566.8M

$24.5K $24.5K

29.83%

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

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$80.0 $80.0

0.99%

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

$4.14 Rp 73.7K

$43.87 $43.87

-90.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.12 Rp 429.8K

$58.0 $58.0

-58.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.8 Rp 1.7M

$69.3 $69.3

40.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.64 Rp 118.4K

$50.4 $50.4

-86.83%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 71.9K

$12.13 $12.13

-66.69%

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

$297 Rp 5.3M

$1,705 $1,705

-82.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,590 Rp 117.4M

$9,954 $9,954

-33.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 Rp 982.6K

$46.84 $46.84

17.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.51 Rp 686.2K

$45.59 $45.59

-15.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$80.6 $80.6

6.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.0 Rp 1.4M

$44.33 $44.33

75.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 Rp 17.6M

$1,161 $1,161

-15.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$665 Rp 11.8M

$918 $918

-27.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,446 Rp 61.4M

$1,485 $1,485

132.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,042 Rp 36.4M

$1,068 $1,068

91.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,829 Rp 50.4M

$3,745 $3,745

-24.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,282 Rp 40.7M

$3,776 $3,776

-39.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 Rp 3.0M

$3,861 $3,861

-95.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

6.36

108.81%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026

Last update for Boone, NC: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $985 in Ubud, Bali and $1,161 in Boone, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Boone, NC pays 2182% 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: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $64.0 in Boone, NC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $299 vs $385 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 Boone, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali and Boone, NC differ by about 42% in total monthly costs ($1,394 vs $1,985 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 2182% lower in Boone, NC. 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: $985 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,161 in Boone, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Boone, NC. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,394 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,985 in Boone, NC – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,394 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,985 in Boone, NC, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Boone, NC. 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 Boone, NC 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 42% less than in Boone, NC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.