Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Cancun

For one person, living costs are similar in Ubud, Bali and in Cancun: $1,368 and $1,398 a month, rent and utilities included.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
Cancun
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,398
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Cancun

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Cancun actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,398 in Cancun, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,368
  • Cancun $1,398

A couple spends around $2,314 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,267 in Cancun, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,314
  • Cancun $2,267

A family of three spends $3,260 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,136 in Cancun, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,260
  • Cancun $3,136

Ubud, Bali is about 2% cheaper than Cancun, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Cancun sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 1%, Cancun by 4%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Cancun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 59.9K
$10.84 MX$200
-69.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.18 Rp 633.2K
$53.8 MX$994
-34.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.80 Rp 104.5K
$11.55 MX$213
-49.78%
Cappuccino
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$3.86 MX$71.4
-29.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
$1.34 MX$24.78
22.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$0.84 MX$15.57
-1.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
$3.06 MX$56.6
-11.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 Rp 77.4K
$4.13 MX$76.3
4.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Cancun
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
$1.64 MX$30.29
-8.54%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
$2.58 MX$47.72
-10.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$1.68 MX$31.12
-29.76%
Eggs
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
$2.80 MX$51.7
-23.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.48 Rp 314.6K
$9.89 MX$183
76.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.03 Rp 72.5K
$8.81 MX$163
-54.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.23 Rp 220.1K
$14.21 MX$263
-13.93%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 63.9K
$2.93 MX$54.1
21.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.67 MX$30.88
-5.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
$3.01 MX$55.5
-25.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.93 Rp 34.7K
$2.19 MX$40.55
-11.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
$1.94 MX$35.91
-3.09%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 Rp 41.3K
$1.96 MX$36.26
16.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
$1.15 MX$21.23
-13.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,475
$1.22 MX$22.51
-56.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
$4.34 MX$80.3
-47.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.01 Rp 414.2K
$10.03 MX$185
129.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
$1.59 MX$29.38
47.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 Rp 52.4K
$2.80 MX$51.8
3.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Cancun
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 Rp 4,315
$0.68 MX$12.66
-64.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.82 Rp 158.7K
$29.10 MX$538
-69.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,684
$4.33 MX$79.9
-88.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,233
$2.82 MX$52.1
-83.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 Rp 98.2K
$13.71 MX$253
-60.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
$1.53 MX$28.28
-42.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K Rp 442.2M
$21.3K MX$394.3K
15.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K Rp 561.4M
$23.8K MX$439.8K
31.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Cancun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
$170 MX$3,149
-51.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.0K
$23.44 MX$433
-72.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.57 Rp 334.2K
$38.92 MX$719
-52.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Cancun
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
$32.26 MX$596
73.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.11 Rp 326.0K
$13.21 MX$244
37.09%
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 78.9K
$7.29 MX$135
-39.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Cancun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
$204 MX$3,761
142.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,754 Rp 103.6M
$5,396 MX$99.7K
6.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Cancun
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.19 Rp 831.4K
$54.1 MX$999
-14.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.33 Rp 636.0K
$55.3 MX$1,021
-36.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$74.0 MX$1,368
6.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$94.0 MX$1,737
-16.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Cancun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,142 Rp 20.6M
$660 MX$12.2K
73.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$676 Rp 12.2M
$457 MX$8,445
47.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,503 Rp 63.1M
$1,404 MX$26.0K
149.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,700 Rp 30.6M
$1,059 MX$19.6K
60.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 50.1M
$1,266 MX$23.4K
119.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
$1,945 MX$35.9K
15.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Cancun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$801 MX$14.8K
-79.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
11.45
20.35%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Last update for Cancun: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$676
Cancun
$457 32.4% $219
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$290
Cancun
$287 1.3% $3.6
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$109
Cancun
$200 83.8% $91
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$108
Cancun
$233 116% $125
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Cancun
$125 16% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$65
Cancun
$47 27.5% $18
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$13
Cancun
$50 300% $38

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,142 in Ubud, Bali versus $660 in Cancun. 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 387% higher in Cancun, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $54.0 in Cancun. Groceries tell a different story – $290 in Ubud, Bali vs $287 in Cancun – so Cancun wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇲🇽 Cancun
🕒 Local time
01:49 1:49 AM
12:49 12:49 PM
13 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
888,797
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,238 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.78 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Cancun 17,260 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Cancun

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Cancun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ubud, Bali and in Cancun compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, $1,398 in Cancun – roughly 2% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Cancun?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,051 per month in Ubud, Bali and $2,098 in Cancun. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ubud, Bali and Cancun?
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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and Cancun?
Kindergarten costs $493 per month in Ubud, Bali and $204 in Cancun. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Cancun – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,368, than in Cancun at $1,398. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cancun it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Cancun?
It depends on your priorities. Cancun has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,368 in Ubud, Bali to $1,398 in Cancun. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Ubud, Bali or Cancun safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Ubud, Bali and Cancun?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cancun makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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