Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Bortala

For one person, living is cheaper in Bortala: $758 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $7,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Bortala, China
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Bortala
🇨🇳 China
$758
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Bortala

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Bortala actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,349 in Ubud, Bali versus $758 in Bortala.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,349
  • Bortala $758

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,305 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,168 in Bortala.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,305
  • Bortala $1,168

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,261 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,577 in Bortala.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,261
  • Bortala $1,577

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 78% more expensive than in Bortala, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Bortala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 60.3K
$2.99 ¥19.86
11.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.64 Rp 647.3K
$22.84 ¥152
56.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 Rp 100.5K
$4.86 ¥32.30
13.79%
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.4K
$2.79 ¥18.52
-2.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
$0.48 ¥3.18
254.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
$0.32 ¥2.10
137.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 48.2K
$1.11 ¥7.38
138.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 Rp 79.6K
$2.16 ¥14.33
102.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Bortala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 27.1K
$1.87 ¥12.44
-20.32%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 Rp 41.3K
$1.59 ¥10.57
43.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$0.95 ¥6.29
25.26%
Eggs
$2.04 Rp 37.0K
$1.60 ¥10.66
27.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.70 Rp 321.5K
$13.42 ¥89.2
31.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 72.0K
$3.36 ¥22.35
17.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 Rp 221.4K
$11.29 ¥75.1
7.97%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 66.4K
$1.89 ¥12.53
93.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.6K
$1.34 ¥8.88
13.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
$1.51 ¥10.01
47.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
$1.26 ¥8.35
56.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.6K
$0.75 ¥4.99
146.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 44.0K
$0.98 ¥6.49
146.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
$0.59 ¥3.95
67.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,324
$0.59 ¥3.89
-13.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 40.4K
$3.71 ¥24.68
-40.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 403.9K
$11.52 ¥76.6
93.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 41.0K
$0.88 ¥5.88
156.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
$1.55 ¥10.30
91.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Bortala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,559
$0.28 ¥1.87
-10.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.82 Rp 142.1K
$15.99 ¥106
-51.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,982
$1.57 ¥10.46
-71.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,811
$0.32 ¥2.15
34.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 Rp 98.2K
$7.15 ¥47.55
-24.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
$1.17 ¥7.80
-29.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 433.0M
$19.4K ¥129.0K
22.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 576.6M
$15.2K ¥100.8K
109.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Bortala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$57.1 ¥380
38.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 117.1K
$8.48 ¥56.4
-23.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.58 Rp 337.4K
$11.13 ¥74.0
66.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Bortala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 Rp 898.7K
$41.95 ¥279
17.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 Rp 320.5K
$14.98 ¥99.6
17.82%
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 Rp 77.6K
$6.53 ¥43.39
-34.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Bortala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.9M
$453 ¥3,013
8.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,674 Rp 103.0M
$19.3K ¥128.4K
-70.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Bortala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64 Rp 810.7K
$42.79 ¥284
4.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 Rp 634.8K
$30.92 ¥206
13.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.5M
$75.6 ¥503
5.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$68.3 ¥454
16.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Bortala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
$291 ¥1,932
287.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 12.2M
$214 ¥1,420
214.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,565 Rp 64.7M
$582 ¥3,870
512.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
$343 ¥2,280
402.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,732 Rp 49.6M
$3,687 ¥24.5K
-25.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 Rp 41.5M
$1,825 ¥12.1K
25.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Bortala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$625 ¥4,156
-73.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
3.36
310.12%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Last update for Bortala: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$672
Bortala
$214 68.2% $458
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$288
Bortala
$210 27.3% $79
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Bortala
$85 21.1% $23
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Bortala
$98 8.9% $9.6
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$104
Bortala
$77 26.3% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$58
Bortala
$55 5.2% $3
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Bortala
$20 77.8% $8.9

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,125 in Ubud, Bali and $291 in Bortala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bortala pays about 3.8 times more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36 in Ubud, Bali vs $23 in Bortala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $210 per month, with Bortala cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇨🇳 Bortala
🕒 Local time
14:02 2:02 PM
14:02 2:02 PM
Same time as Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
246,706
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18,161 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,355 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.91 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 6.65 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.45 CNY (1 CNY = 0.134 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Bortala 6,800 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Bortala

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Bortala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Bortala?
Bortala wins on cost – living expenses run 44% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Bortala the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Bortala?
On paper, salaries run 74% lower in Ubud, Bali. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Bortala?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,125 in Ubud, Bali versus $291 in Bortala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Bortala?
All in, you’ll spend $1,349 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $758 in Bortala – Bortala is about 44% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali compared to Bortala?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 51% less than in Bortala. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ubud, Bali or Bortala?
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.

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