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 $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $853 in Buff Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,412 in Buff Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,970 in Buff Bay, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 66% more than Buff Bay, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Buff Bay is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

$7.64 JMD 1,201

-53.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

$61.8 JMD 9,715

-47.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

$4.86 JMD 765

1.85%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

$4.29 JMD 675

-36.83%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

$0.79 JMD 124

69.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.65 JMD 103

7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

$1.93 JMD 304

51.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

$3.21 JMD 505

23.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

$4.19 JMD 659

-56.80%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

$3.58 JMD 563

-29.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

$1.63 JMD 256

-28.83%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$3.61 JMD 568

-31.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

$11.18 JMD 1,758

31.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

$6.18 JMD 972

-30.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

$7.59 JMD 1,194

59.95%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

$6.14 JMD 965

-37.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

$3.10 JMD 488

-49.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

$4.23 JMD 666

-33.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

$2.95 JMD 463

-21.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

$2.01 JMD 316

-4.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

$1.99 JMD 313

10.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

$3.02 JMD 475

-66.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$1.51 JMD 237

-48.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

$8.54 JMD 1,344

-61.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

$11.29 JMD 1,775

110.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

$2.88 JMD 453

-3.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

$3.17 JMD 498

-9.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,819

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,181

$1.07 JMD 169

-57.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,068

$3.12 JMD 491

-85.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

$6.16 JMD 969

-0.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.23 JMD 194

-35.77%

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

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

$43.6K JMD 6.9M

-39.99%

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

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

$33.4K JMD 5.3M

-3.84%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$164 JMD 25.7K

-51.11%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

$22.27 JMD 3,502

-81.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

$50.1 JMD 7,875

-53.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

$12.92 JMD 2,032

-67.88%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$227 JMD 35.7K

33.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

$2,479 JMD 389.8K

166.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

$26.59 JMD 4,181

108.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

$25.86 JMD 4,066

48.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$71.8 JMD 11.3K

23.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$74.9 JMD 11.8K

4.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

9.15

45.14%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Buff Bay: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $62.0 in Buff Bay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $350 – 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: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, $853 in Buff Bay – roughly 66% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,280 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 $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $853 in Buff Bay. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $227 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 $853, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. 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 $853 in Buff Bay to $1,419 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.