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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,367 in Cancun, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,240 in Cancun, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,112 in Cancun, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 3% more than Cancun, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Cancun sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 5%, Cancun by 2%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 61.8K

$13.37 MX$234

-74.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 578.5K

$54.0 MX$943

-40.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 86.7K

$10.08 MX$176

-51.98%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.1K

$3.56 MX$62.3

-22.75%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

$1.58 MX$27.66

-12.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

$0.95 MX$16.68

-21.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.5K

$2.97 MX$52.0

0.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 68.9K

$4.59 MX$80.2

-16.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

$1.44 MX$25.11

20.83%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.0K

$2.50 MX$43.77

-1.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.9K

$1.84 MX$32.19

-36.41%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.5K

$2.61 MX$45.57

-6.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 259.5K

$11.54 MX$202

25.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 77.8K

$8.40 MX$147

-48.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 214.3K

$10.97 MX$192

9.21%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.5K

$3.14 MX$55.0

18.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.1K

$1.63 MX$28.58

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.1K

$3.13 MX$54.7

-12.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.1K

$2.08 MX$36.36

7.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.3K

$2.18 MX$38.15

-11.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.7K

$2.23 MX$39.02

2.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.0K

$1.08 MX$18.84

-1.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$1.32 MX$23.13

-45.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 58.8K

$4.26 MX$74.4

-22.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 414.9K

$10.43 MX$182

122.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.7K

$1.75 MX$30.58

58.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 48.9K

$2.63 MX$46.02

3.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,765

$0.65 MX$11.30

-58.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.0K

$59.1 MX$1,033

-86.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,636

$4.34 MX$75.8

-88.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,511

$2.58 MX$45.20

-83.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.3K

$10.01 MX$175

-37.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$1.28 MX$22.34

-36.72%

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

$26.6K Rp 476.1M

$29.8K MX$520.8K

-10.66%

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

$32.2K Rp 575.9M

$23.7K MX$415.1K

35.59%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$115 MX$2,018

-32.12%

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

$4.07 Rp 72.8K

$22.90 MX$400

-82.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 435.2K

$35.36 MX$618

-31.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$25.30 MX$442

289.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.3K

$24.43 MX$427

-74.05%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.3K

$5.95 MX$104

-32.94%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

$202 MX$3,533

50.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 118.8M

$5,302 MX$92.7K

25.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 968.6K

$54.2 MX$947

-0.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 676.3K

$39.72 MX$695

-4.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$82.2 MX$1,437

5.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$108 MX$1,881

-29.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.7M

$626 MX$10.9K

58.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.0M

$457 MX$7,998

47.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.4M

$1,282 MX$22.4K

163.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.7M

$978 MX$17.1K

109.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.2M

$1,287 MX$22.5K

117.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 39.8M

$2,030 MX$35.5K

9.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$803 MX$14.0K

-79.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

11.42

16.29%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Cancun: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $626 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 381% higher in Cancun, 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 $54.0 in Cancun. Groceries tell a different story – $297 in Ubud, Bali vs $281 in Cancun – so Cancun wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, $1,367 in Cancun – roughly 3% apart. Ubud, Bali 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 $2,051 in Cancun. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Ubud, Bali and $202 in Cancun. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Cancun, where all-in costs run around $1,367, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Cancun it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Cancun has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,367 in Cancun to $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. 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 Cancun. 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.