Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Burlington, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Burlington, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,584 in Burlington, NC, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,582 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,749 in Burlington, NC, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,757 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,914 in Burlington, NC, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 46% cheaper than Burlington, NC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Burlington, NC sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 5%, Burlington, NC by 93%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.42 Rp 58.7K

$19.20 $19.20

-82.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 Rp 566.5K

$74.1 $74.1

-55.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.08 Rp 87.3K

$10.92 $10.92

-53.48%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 48.5K

$5.03 $5.03

-43.94%

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

$1.37 Rp 23.5K

$2.53 $2.53

-45.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 Rp 12.2K

$1.96 $1.96

-63.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 Rp 51.0K

$6.03 $6.03

-50.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 Rp 67.2K

$6.98 $6.98

-43.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 Rp 30.0K

$0.99 $0.99

76.77%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 43.2K

$3.61 $3.61

-30.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 Rp 20.8K

$4.37 $4.37

-72.31%

Eggs

$2.33 Rp 40.1K

$4.03 $4.03

-42.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 249.2K

$12.42 $12.42

16.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.36 Rp 74.9K

$11.46 $11.46

-61.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.05 Rp 207.0K

$15.64 $15.64

-22.95%

Apples (1kg)

$3.82 Rp 65.6K

$4.92 $4.92

-22.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

$1.63 $1.63

-1.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 Rp 46.5K

$4.18 $4.18

-35.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 Rp 38.3K

$4.78 $4.78

-53.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 32.6K

$2.87 $2.87

-33.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 Rp 37.5K

$2.80 $2.80

-22.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 17.7K

$2.04 $2.04

-49.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.3K

$2.09 $2.09

-63.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 Rp 54.7K

$9.74 $9.74

-67.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.23 Rp 399.2K

$13.89 $13.89

67.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 Rp 48.9K

$1.82 $1.82

56.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 Rp 46.7K

$3.35 $3.35

-18.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,022

$1.97 $1.97

-85.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.43 Rp 144.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,344

$3.58 $3.58

-86.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,812

$1.66 $1.66

-72.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.28 Rp 107.8K

$28.74 $28.74

-78.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 14.6K

$0.86 $0.86

-1.16%

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

$26.1K Rp 447.8M

$29.4K $29.4K

-11.27%

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

$31.5K Rp 541.8M

$25.6K $25.6K

23.35%

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

$79.8 Rp 1.4M

$189 $189

-57.82%

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

$4.09 Rp 70.3K

$52.7 $52.7

-92.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.06 Rp 413.6K

$67.2 $67.2

-64.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.2 Rp 1.7M

$43.43 $43.43

121.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.53 Rp 112.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.13 Rp 71.1K

$13.51 $13.51

-69.43%

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

$297 Rp 5.1M

$1,294 $1,294

-77.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,661 Rp 114.5M

$23.5K $23.5K

-71.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.0 Rp 944.5K

$50.3 $50.3

9.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.75 Rp 666.0K

$39.25 $39.25

-1.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.6 Rp 1.5M

$88.2 $88.2

1.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$114 $114

-30.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 Rp 17.5M

$1,618 $1,618

-37.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$660 Rp 11.3M

$1,340 $1,340

-50.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,435 Rp 59.0M

$2,619 $2,619

31.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,053 Rp 35.3M

$2,263 $2,263

-9.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,981 Rp 51.2M

$2,791 $2,791

6.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,368 Rp 40.7M

$2,490 $2,490

-4.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

6.51

103.99%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026

Last update for Burlington, NC: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,018 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,618 in Burlington, NC. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33 in Ubud, Bali versus $74 in Burlington, NC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $299 vs $387 – 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 Burlington, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, $2,584 in Burlington, NC – roughly 84% apart. Burlington, NC costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,876 in Burlington, NC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, 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 $2,584 in Burlington, NC. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $297 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,294 in Burlington, NC. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,408, than in Burlington, NC at $2,584. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Burlington, NC 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 $1,408 in Ubud, Bali to $2,584 in Burlington, NC. 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 Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Burlington, NC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.