Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Cape Carteret, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Cape Carteret, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,538 in Cape Carteret, NC, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,734 in Cape Carteret, NC, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,273 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,930 in Cape Carteret, NC, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 45% cheaper than Cape Carteret, NC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Cape Carteret, NC sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 2%, Cape Carteret, NC by 85%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.37 Rp 59.5K

$17.82 $17.82

-81.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.59 Rp 680.4K

$90.8 $90.8

-57.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 Rp 97.3K

$11.85 $11.85

-53.42%

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 46.6K

$5.90 $5.90

-55.25%

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

$1.67 Rp 29.5K

$2.68 $2.68

-37.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$2.14 $2.14

-64.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 Rp 46.4K

$6.07 $6.07

-56.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

$7.10 $7.10

-39.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

$1.00 $1.00

55.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 Rp 39.2K

$3.15 $3.15

-29.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 Rp 19.8K

$5.45 $5.45

-79.27%

Eggs

$2.09 Rp 36.8K

$4.06 $4.06

-48.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 Rp 306.7K

$10.40 $10.40

67.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 Rp 68.2K

$9.64 $9.64

-59.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.55 Rp 221.3K

$18.45 $18.45

-31.98%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.8K

$2.59 $2.59

39.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.5K

$1.56 $1.56

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 Rp 41.5K

$4.92 $4.92

-52.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 Rp 36.2K

$5.93 $5.93

-65.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 33.5K

$2.24 $2.24

-15.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$4.60 $4.60

-49.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

$1.74 $1.74

-40.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,781

$2.25 $2.25

-75.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 39.7K

$8.87 $8.87

-74.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 419.8K

$12.14 $12.14

96.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 Rp 40.8K

$1.82 $1.82

26.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 Rp 49.4K

$2.15 $2.15

30.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,803

$2.02 $2.02

-86.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 152.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,490

$4.72 $4.72

-89.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,865

$1.28 $1.28

-64.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.72 Rp 100.8K

$19.67 $19.67

-70.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

$0.91 $0.91

-16.48%

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

$24.5K Rp 431.7M

$35.7K $35.7K

-31.43%

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

$32.1K Rp 566.4M

$24.6K $24.6K

30.79%

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

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

$206 $206

-59.38%

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

$6.46 Rp 113.8K

$60.1 $60.1

-89.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.99 Rp 334.9K

$66.6 $66.6

-71.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 Rp 987.0K

$40.91 $40.91

36.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 328.3K

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

$12.23 $12.23

-65.00%

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

$487 Rp 8.6M

$1,589 $1,589

-69.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,856 Rp 103.3M

$15.9K $15.9K

-63.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.56 Rp 803.3K

$60.6 $60.6

-24.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.38 Rp 641.5K

$46.78 $46.78

-22.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

$118 $118

-30.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$113 $113

-29.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

$1,573 $1,573

-29.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 Rp 12.4M

$1,320 $1,320

-46.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,537 Rp 62.4M

$2,524 $2,524

40.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,762 Rp 31.1M

$2,174 $2,174

-18.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 49.8M

$2,736 $2,736

3.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.4M

$2,390 $2,390

-4.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

6.03

128.52%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for Cape Carteret, NC: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,573 in Cape Carteret, 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $91.0 in Cape Carteret, NC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $373 – 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 Cape Carteret, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cape Carteret, NC is pricier by about 82%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,095 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,808 in Cape Carteret, 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 $1,396 in Ubud, Bali and $2,538 in Cape Carteret, NC. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $487 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,589 in Cape Carteret, 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 $1,396, than in Cape Carteret, NC at $2,538. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cape Carteret, NC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Cape Carteret, NC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.