Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Carlsbad, NM

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,349 a month against $2,193 in Carlsbad, NM, rent and utilities included – about $10,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Carlsbad, NM, United States
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Carlsbad, NM
🇺🇸 United States
$2,193
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Carlsbad, NM

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 Carlsbad, NM actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,349 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,193 in Carlsbad, NM, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,349
  • Carlsbad, NM $2,193

A couple spends around $2,305 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,146 in Carlsbad, NM, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,305
  • Carlsbad, NM $3,146

A family of three spends $3,261 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,098 in Carlsbad, NM, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,261
  • Carlsbad, NM $4,098

Ubud, Bali is about 39% cheaper than Carlsbad, NM, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Carlsbad, NM
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 60.2K
$17.29 $17.29
-80.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.64 Rp 645.8K
$45.36 $45.36
-21.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 Rp 100.3K
$11.82 $11.82
-53.21%
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.3K
$5.70 $5.70
-52.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 30.8K
$1.51 $1.51
12.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
$1.26 $1.26
-39.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 48.1K
$5.09 $5.09
-47.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 Rp 79.4K
$7.09 $7.09
-38.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Carlsbad, NM
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 27.0K
$0.80 $0.80
86.25%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 Rp 41.2K
$3.66 $3.66
-37.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$3.69 $3.69
-67.75%
Eggs
$2.04 Rp 36.9K
$4.74 $4.74
-56.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.70 Rp 320.8K
$13.61 $13.61
30.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 71.8K
$12.22 $12.22
-67.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 Rp 220.9K
$17.73 $17.73
-31.25%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 66.2K
$4.20 $4.20
-12.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.5K
$2.01 $2.01
-24.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
$3.41 $3.41
-34.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.7K
$4.01 $4.01
-50.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.5K
$2.30 $2.30
-19.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 43.9K
$2.43 $2.43
-0.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
$1.80 $1.80
-45.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,303
$1.90 $1.90
-73.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 40.3K
$10.81 $10.81
-79.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 403.0K
$14.93 $14.93
48.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 41.0K
$2.47 $2.47
-8.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.8K
$3.63 $3.63
-18.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Carlsbad, NM
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,548
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.82 Rp 141.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,964
$2.37 $2.37
-81.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,793
$2.42 $2.42
-82.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 Rp 98.0K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.9K
$0.92 $0.92
-10.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 432.0M
$28.1K $28.1K
-15.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 575.3M
$24.6K $24.6K
29.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Carlsbad, NM
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$172 $172
-53.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.8K
$57.0 $57.0
-88.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.58 Rp 336.7K
$75.5 $75.5
-75.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Carlsbad, NM
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 Rp 896.7K
$41.23 $41.23
20.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 Rp 319.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 Rp 77.4K
$9.99 $9.99
-57.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Carlsbad, NM
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.9M
$679 $679
-27.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,674 Rp 102.8M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Carlsbad, NM
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64 Rp 808.9K
$59.9 $59.9
-25.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 Rp 633.4K
$32.36 $32.36
8.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$84.1 $84.1
-5.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$99.9 $99.9
-20.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Carlsbad, NM
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
$1,236 $1,236
-9.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 12.2M
$1,005 $1,005
-33.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,565 Rp 64.6M
$1,972 $1,972
80.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 Rp 31.2M
$1,592 $1,592
8.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,732 Rp 49.5M
$2,019 $2,019
35.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 Rp 41.4M
$2,018 $2,018
13.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Carlsbad, NM
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$4,175 $4,175
-96.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
5.61
145.63%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Last update for Carlsbad, NM: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$672
Carlsbad, NM
$1K 49.6% $333
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$288
Carlsbad, NM
$391 35.7% $103
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Carlsbad, NM
$293 172% $185
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Carlsbad, NM
$124 15.7% $17
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$104
Carlsbad, NM
$304 192% $200
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$58
Carlsbad, NM
$61 5.5% $3.2
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Carlsbad, NM
$14 * 26.8% $3.1

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,125 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,236 in Carlsbad, NM. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Carlsbad, NM are about 25 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36 in Ubud, Bali versus $45 in Carlsbad, NM. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $391 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇺🇸 Carlsbad, NM
🕒 Local time
12:38 12:38 PM
21:38 9:38 PM
15 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
114,746
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18,120 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.52 USD). 1 EUR = 20,232 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Carlsbad, NM 15,160 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Carlsbad, NM

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 Carlsbad, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ubud, Bali and in Carlsbad, NM compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, $2,193 in Carlsbad, NM – Ubud, Bali comes out roughly 39% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Carlsbad, NM?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,023 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,290 in Carlsbad, NM. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Carlsbad, NM?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,125 in Ubud, Bali and $1,236 in Carlsbad, NM. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $36 in Ubud, Bali and $45 in Carlsbad, NM. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 36% more in Carlsbad, NM, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Which city is feasible on a $1,000 budget?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,349 in Ubud, Bali and $2,193 in Carlsbad, NM. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Where should families live: Ubud, Bali or Carlsbad, NM?
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.
How do I decide between Ubud, Bali and Carlsbad, NM?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Carlsbad, NM makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

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