Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Bowling Green, KY Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Bowling Green, KY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,095 in Bowling Green, KY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,044 in Bowling Green, KY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,275 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,993 in Bowling Green, KY.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 34% less than in Bowling Green, KY, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 0% above, Bowling Green, KY 52% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Bowling Green, KY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 58.7K
$15.08 $15.08
-77.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.82 Rp 630.7K
$55.3 $55.3
-35.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.63 Rp 99.1K
$10.93 $10.93
-48.49%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 49.7K
$5.08 $5.08
-44.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
$2.41 $2.41
-27.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 Rp 14.0K
$1.85 $1.85
-56.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 Rp 53.6K
$4.09 $4.09
-25.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
$5.02 $5.02
-14.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Bowling Green, KY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 Rp 28.3K
$0.77 $0.77
109.09%
White Bread (500g)
$2.27 Rp 39.9K
$2.21 $2.21
2.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 20.6K
$2.19 $2.19
-46.58%
Eggs
$2.17 Rp 38.2K
$2.73 $2.73
-20.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.63 Rp 310.5K
$9.64 $9.64
82.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.05 Rp 71.4K
$9.78 $9.78
-58.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 214.5K
$12.57 $12.57
-3.10%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 Rp 63.7K
$3.87 $3.87
-6.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 Rp 28.8K
$1.16 $1.16
41.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 40.6K
$2.73 $2.73
-15.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.96 Rp 34.5K
$3.01 $3.01
-34.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 Rp 32.5K
$1.71 $1.71
7.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.37 Rp 41.7K
$2.26 $2.26
4.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 18.5K
$1.87 $1.87
-43.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 Rp 9,560
$1.31 $1.31
-58.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30 Rp 40.6K
$8.36 $8.36
-72.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.08 Rp 406.4K
$12.73 $12.73
81.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
$1.71 $1.71
36.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 Rp 54.0K
$1.46 $1.46
110.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Bowling Green, KY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,365
$3.40 $3.40
-92.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.42 Rp 165.9K
$40.79 $40.79
-76.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.49 Rp 8,631
$4.17 $4.17
-88.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,349
$1.59 $1.59
-70.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 98.6K
$25.35 $25.35
-77.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
$0.86 $0.86
-5.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K Rp 440.3M
$35.2K $35.2K
-28.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K Rp 547.0M
$25.4K $25.4K
22.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Bowling Green, KY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.7 Rp 1.5M
$152 $152
-45.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 114.2K
$44.97 $44.97
-85.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.79 Rp 330.8K
$69.2 $69.2
-72.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Bowling Green, KY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.2 Rp 972.6K
$29.53 $29.53
87.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.21 Rp 320.6K
$11.82 $11.82
54.06%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
$11.99 $11.99
-64.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Bowling Green, KY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 Rp 8.7M
$1,535 $1,535
-67.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,917 Rp 104.2M
$8,473 $8,473
-30.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Bowling Green, KY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.28 Rp 814.8K
$68.4 $68.4
-32.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.44 Rp 641.6K
$52.9 $52.9
-31.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
$85.4 $85.4
-5.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8 Rp 1.4M
$168 $168
-53.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Bowling Green, KY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,114 Rp 19.6M
$1,151 $1,151
-3.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$693 Rp 12.2M
$965 $965
-28.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,639 Rp 64.1M
$1,693 $1,693
114.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,712 Rp 30.1M
$1,542 $1,542
11.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,761 Rp 48.6M
$2,014 $2,014
37.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,293 Rp 40.4M
$1,974 $1,974
16.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Bowling Green, KY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 2.9M
$2,984 $2,984
-94.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
6.23
121.19%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Bowling Green, KY: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali and $1,151 in Bowling Green, KY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bowling Green, KY pays 1686% 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 $55.0 in Bowling Green, KY. Groceries flip the comparison at $294 vs $287, with Bowling Green, KY 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 Bowling Green, KY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Bowling Green, KY?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 52% lower than in Bowling Green, KY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Bowling Green, KY?
On paper, salaries run 1686% lower in Bowling Green, KY. 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 Bowling Green, KY?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,151 in Bowling Green, KY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Bowling Green, KY?
Shoppers in Bowling Green, KY pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Bowling Green, KY?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $55.0 in Bowling Green, KY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Bowling Green, KY?
At $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,095 in Bowling Green, KY, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Bowling Green, KY. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Bowling Green, KY?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,378 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Bowling Green, KY?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Bowling Green, KY are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Bowling Green, KY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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