Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Bulacan Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Bulacan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $718 in Bulacan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,050 in Bulacan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,383 in Bulacan, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 98% more than Bulacan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Bulacan is 46% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

$2.70 ₱167

31.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$14.10 ₱870

132.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$2.83 ₱174

74.91%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$2.22 ₱137

22.07%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$0.68 ₱41.84

97.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.31 ₱18.92

125.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$1.04 ₱63.9

180.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

$2.10 ₱129

88.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$2.11 ₱130

-14.22%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

$1.25 ₱77.0

101.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$0.92 ₱56.6

26.09%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$1.97 ₱121

24.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

$3.04 ₱188

383.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

$3.70 ₱228

16.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

$6.67 ₱411

82.01%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

$2.07 ₱128

85.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

$1.44 ₱88.6

8.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

$2.14 ₱132

32.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

$1.43 ₱88.2

62.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$1.74 ₱107

9.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

$1.52 ₱93.6

44.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$0.88 ₱54.0

14.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$0.84 ₱52.1

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

$2.87 ₱177

15.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

$3.63 ₱224

553.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

$1.09 ₱67.3

155.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

$1.62 ₱100

76.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$0.29 ₱17.95

-6.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

$7.49 ₱462

7.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

$0.76 ₱47.02

-39.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

$0.24 ₱14.84

87.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

$2.72 ₱168

124.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.10 ₱67.6

-28.18%

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

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

$27.1K ₱1.7M

-3.46%

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

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

$14.7K ₱905.5K

118.73%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$113 ₱6,942

-28.99%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

$32.16 ₱1,983

-87.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

$27.96 ₱1,724

-15.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$40.56 ₱2,501

143.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

$4.40 ₱271

50.68%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

$6.38 ₱393

-34.95%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$106 ₱6,556

185.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

$4,394 ₱270.9K

50.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

$29.90 ₱1,844

85.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

$23.35 ₱1,440

64.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$75.8 ₱4,674

16.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$98.2 ₱6,052

-20.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$255 ₱15.7K

294.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$135 ₱8,326

400.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

$392 ₱24.1K

778.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

$202 ₱12.4K

911.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

$1,907 ₱117.6K

49.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

$1,479 ₱91.2K

53.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$294 ₱18.1K

-43.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

6.17

115.24%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Bulacan: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $255 in Bulacan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 78% higher in Bulacan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $14.00 in Bulacan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $165 – making Bulacan 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 Bulacan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 98% more than Bulacan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,076 in Bulacan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bulacan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $718 in Bulacan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 7% less in Bulacan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bulacan, where all-in costs run around $718, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Bulacan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bulacan costs $718 versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Bulacan. 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.