Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Buffalo, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Buffalo, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,663 in Buffalo, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,875 in Buffalo, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Ubud, Bali versus $5,087 in Buffalo, NY.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 47% less than in Buffalo, NY, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 4% above, Buffalo, NY 98% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Buffalo, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
$29.70 $29.70
-87.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
$86.3 $86.3
-62.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
$11.91 $11.91
-59.19%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
$5.46 $5.46
-49.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
$2.72 $2.72
-51.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
$2.08 $2.08
-66.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
$5.61 $5.61
-48.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
$6.85 $6.85
-44.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Buffalo, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
$0.86 $0.86
98.84%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
$3.80 $3.80
-35.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
$4.94 $4.94
-75.71%
Eggs
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
$4.00 $4.00
-39.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
$13.48 $13.48
6.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
$8.57 $8.57
-49.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
$12.09 $12.09
0.99%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
$3.87 $3.87
-4.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
$1.63 $1.63
-4.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
$5.51 $5.51
-49.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
$5.07 $5.07
-54.04%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
$2.49 $2.49
-20.88%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
$3.53 $3.53
-34.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$2.49 $2.49
-57.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
$2.49 $2.49
-70.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
$14.12 $14.12
-76.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
$18.16 $18.16
25.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
$1.78 $1.78
57.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$7.40 $7.40
-62.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Buffalo, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,217
$2.06 $2.06
-85.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
$91.4 $91.4
-91.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,047
$5.35 $5.35
-91.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,094
$2.23 $2.23
-79.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
$44.43 $44.43
-85.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
$0.95 $0.95
-10.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
$32.6K $32.6K
-20.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
$24.0K $24.0K
31.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Buffalo, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
$253 $253
-68.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
$47.17 $47.17
-91.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
$59.6 $59.6
-59.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Buffalo, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
$33.51 $33.51
191.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
$57.0 $57.0
-88.67%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
$14.25 $14.25
-71.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Buffalo, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$907 $907
-66.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
$28.4K $28.4K
-76.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Buffalo, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
$46.51 $46.51
16.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
$45.73 $45.73
-15.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$102 $102
-15.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$115 $115
-33.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Buffalo, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.7M
$1,591 $1,591
-38.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 Rp 11.8M
$1,213 $1,213
-45.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
$2,068 $2,068
62.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
$1,739 $1,739
18.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
$3,114 $3,114
-11.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
$1,746 $1,746
27.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Buffalo, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$163 Rp 2.9M
$3,532 $3,532
-95.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6.53
103.37%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Buffalo, NY: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $1,591 in Buffalo, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Buffalo, NY pays 2061% 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: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $86.0 in Buffalo, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $393 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 Buffalo, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Buffalo, NY?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 90% lower than in Buffalo, NY. 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 Buffalo, NY?
On paper, Buffalo, NY earns 2061% less. 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 vs Buffalo, NY?
Rent for a central apartment: $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,591 in Buffalo, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and Buffalo, NY?
Childcare runs $304 in Ubud, Bali versus $907 in Buffalo, NY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or Buffalo, NY?
Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Buffalo, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Buffalo, NY?
At $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,663 in Buffalo, NY, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Buffalo, NY. 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 Buffalo, NY?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,404 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 Buffalo, NY?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Buffalo, NY 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 90% less than in Buffalo, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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