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 $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,487 in Cancun, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,433 in Cancun, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,273 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,378 in Cancun, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 6% cheaper than Cancun, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Cancun sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 2%, Cancun by 8%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.37 Rp 59.8K

$11.92 MX$203

-71.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.59 Rp 683.8K

$58.9 MX$1,001

-34.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 Rp 97.8K

$12.04 MX$205

-54.15%

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 46.9K

$4.17 MX$70.8

-36.69%

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

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

$1.39 MX$23.68

20.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$0.88 MX$14.95

-12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 Rp 46.7K

$3.30 MX$56.2

-20.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 Rp 75.9K

$4.49 MX$76.3

-4.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 Rp 27.4K

$1.77 MX$30.00

-12.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 Rp 39.4K

$2.72 MX$46.14

-18.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 Rp 19.9K

$1.78 MX$30.31

-36.52%

Eggs

$2.09 Rp 37.0K

$2.88 MX$48.88

-27.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 Rp 308.2K

$10.41 MX$177

67.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 Rp 68.5K

$9.12 MX$155

-57.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.55 Rp 222.4K

$14.27 MX$243

-12.05%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 64.1K

$2.92 MX$49.59

23.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.6K

$1.70 MX$28.85

-8.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 Rp 41.7K

$3.24 MX$55.1

-27.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

$2.37 MX$40.28

-13.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

$2.03 MX$34.56

-6.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 Rp 41.4K

$1.96 MX$33.35

19.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 18.3K

$1.19 MX$20.30

-13.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,830

$1.28 MX$21.81

-57.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 39.9K

$4.80 MX$81.6

-53.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 421.9K

$10.51 MX$179

126.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 Rp 41.0K

$1.63 MX$27.76

41.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 Rp 49.6K

$2.85 MX$48.43

-1.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,827

$0.68 MX$11.48

-60.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 153.5K

$30.36 MX$516

-71.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,533

$4.57 MX$77.7

-89.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,904

$3.14 MX$53.4

-85.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.72 Rp 101.4K

$14.75 MX$251

-61.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

$1.57 MX$26.72

-51.59%

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

$24.5K Rp 433.9M

$22.5K MX$382.9K

8.64%

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

$32.1K Rp 569.3M

$25.9K MX$440.4K

23.95%

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

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

$177 MX$3,002

-52.70%

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

$6.46 Rp 114.4K

$25.68 MX$436

-74.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.99 Rp 336.6K

$40.90 MX$695

-53.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 Rp 992.0K

$34.82 MX$592

60.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 329.9K

$14.59 MX$248

27.62%

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 Rp 75.9K

$7.76 MX$132

-44.85%

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

$487 Rp 8.6M

$222 MX$3,772

119.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,856 Rp 103.8M

$5,926 MX$100.7K

-1.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.56 Rp 807.4K

$59.3 MX$1,007

-23.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.38 Rp 644.7K

$58.7 MX$998

-38.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 Rp 1.5M

$81.3 MX$1,382

0.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$99.8 MX$1,695

-19.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 Rp 19.8M

$699 MX$11.9K

59.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 Rp 12.4M

$482 MX$8,188

45.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,537 Rp 62.7M

$1,495 MX$25.4K

136.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,762 Rp 31.2M

$1,124 MX$19.1K

56.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 50.1M

$1,356 MX$23.0K

108.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.6M

$2,103 MX$35.7K

8.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 Rp 3.0M

$847 MX$14.4K

-79.95%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Cancun: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $699 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 399% 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $59.0 in Cancun. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $298 – 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 Cancun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, $1,487 in Cancun – roughly 7% apart. Cancun costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,095 per month in Ubud, Bali and $2,231 in Cancun. 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.

Kindergarten costs $487 per month in Ubud, Bali and $222 in Cancun. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% more in Cancun, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,396, than in Cancun at $1,487. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cancun 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 $1,396 in Ubud, Bali to $1,487 in Cancun. 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, Cancun makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.