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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $709 in Bulacan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,047 in Bulacan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,385 in Bulacan, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 99% more than Bulacan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Bulacan is 47% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

$2.63 ₱162

31.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

$14.29 ₱879

126.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

$2.86 ₱176

69.23%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

$2.18 ₱134

26.15%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

$0.68 ₱42.03

102.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.33 ₱20.57

127.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

$1.04 ₱63.9

187.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

$2.03 ₱125

89.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

$2.04 ₱125

-14.71%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$1.24 ₱76.4

98.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$0.98 ₱60.4

19.39%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

$1.99 ₱122

22.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

$3.13 ₱193

363.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

$3.49 ₱215

24.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

$6.44 ₱397

86.02%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

$2.17 ₱134

71.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$1.44 ₱88.9

13.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

$2.11 ₱130

29.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

$1.47 ₱90.5

52.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

$1.81 ₱112

6.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

$1.51 ₱92.8

50.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.83 ₱51.1

27.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.80 ₱49.24

-10.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

$2.86 ₱176

15.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

$3.68 ₱227

530.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

$1.04 ₱64.3

167.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

$1.71 ₱105

59.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,778

$0.29 ₱17.92

-6.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

$7.30 ₱449

11.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,659

$0.81 ₱50.1

-40.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,532

$0.22 ₱13.51

90.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

$2.64 ₱162

135.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$1.10 ₱67.5

-26.36%

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

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

$27.3K ₱1.7M

-2.54%

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

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

$14.8K ₱912.1K

117.27%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$113 ₱6,971

-30.80%

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

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

$32.87 ₱2,023

-87.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

$28.12 ₱1,731

-13.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$41.87 ₱2,578

135.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

$4.34 ₱267

46.08%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

$6.05 ₱372

-34.05%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

$105 ₱6,493

189.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

$4,301 ₱264.8K

54.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

$30.11 ₱1,854

79.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

$23.21 ₱1,429

62.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$75.5 ₱4,648

15.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$99.1 ₱6,103

-22.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$259 ₱15.9K

283.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$135 ₱8,317

397.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

$391 ₱24.1K

763.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$201 ₱12.4K

920.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

$1,954 ₱120.3K

43.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

$1,461 ₱90.0K

52.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$293 ₱18.0K

-43.01%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Bulacan: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $259 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 75% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $14.00 in Bulacan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $164 – 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 99% 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 $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,063 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 $1,408 in Ubud, Bali and $709 in Bulacan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 11% 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 $709, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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 $709 versus $1,408 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.