Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Buff Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Buff Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $972 in Buff Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,612 in Buff Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,251 in Buff Bay, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 41% more than Buff Bay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Buff Bay is 29% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 61.0K

$10.98 JMD 1,721

-68.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 644.5K

$74.7 JMD 11.7K

-51.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.3K

$5.21 JMD 816

9.60%

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.4K

$5.38 JMD 843

-50.37%

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

$1.75 Rp 31.1K

$0.75 JMD 117

133.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.5K

$0.60 JMD 94.5

45.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.4K

$1.89 JMD 296

56.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.2K

$3.22 JMD 505

40.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$4.13 JMD 647

-60.77%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

$3.70 JMD 580

-37.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.7K

$1.64 JMD 257

-32.32%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.1K

$3.66 JMD 574

-39.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 314.0K

$11.66 JMD 1,827

51.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.7K

$6.21 JMD 973

-33.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 216.1K

$10.42 JMD 1,634

16.89%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.8K

$6.01 JMD 941

-38.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.2K

$4.03 JMD 631

-60.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.5K

$7.44 JMD 1,166

-69.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.7K

$3.00 JMD 470

-35.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.8K

$3.32 JMD 520

-42.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

$2.61 JMD 409

-10.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

$3.01 JMD 472

-66.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,795

$1.50 JMD 234

-63.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.6K

$9.27 JMD 1,453

-75.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 409.5K

$11.51 JMD 1,804

100.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.9K

$2.85 JMD 447

-15.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.2K

$4.05 JMD 635

-25.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,825

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,586

$1.22 JMD 191

-60.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,697

$3.12 JMD 489

-86.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 100.1K

$6.18 JMD 968

-8.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

$1.37 JMD 214

-41.61%

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

$24.9K Rp 442.7M

$44.6K JMD 7.0M

-44.09%

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

$31.7K Rp 562.8M

$32.3K JMD 5.1M

-1.85%

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$178 JMD 27.9K

-54.32%

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

$6.49 Rp 115.2K

$29.06 JMD 4,555

-77.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 333.1K

$53.1 JMD 8,328

-64.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 332.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.5K

$13.50 JMD 2,115

-66.37%

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

$358 JMD 56.1K

34.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.4M

$8,100 JMD 1.3M

-29.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 807.9K

$24.04 JMD 3,767

89.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 636.9K

$31.34 JMD 4,912

14.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$77.2 JMD 12.1K

4.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$106 JMD 16.5K

-25.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

9.45

45.82%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Buff Bay: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $75.0 in Buff Bay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $386 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Buff Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, $972 in Buff Bay – roughly 41% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,457 in Buff Bay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,368 in Ubud, Bali and $972 in Buff Bay. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $481 per month in Ubud, Bali and $358 in Buff Bay. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Buff Bay, where all-in costs run around $972, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In Buff Bay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $972 in Buff Bay to $1,368 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Buff Bay. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.