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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $836 in Cartago, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,266 in Cartago, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,696 in Cartago, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 68% more than Cartago, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Cartago is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.1K

$3.64 COP 11.9K

-5.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 581.1K

$28.68 COP 93.4K

12.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 87.1K

$7.29 COP 23.7K

-33.61%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

$1.59 COP 5,175

72.96%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.9K

$0.87 COP 2,830

58.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.57 COP 1,855

31.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.8K

$1.00 COP 3,268

199.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.2K

$2.51 COP 8,176

53.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.2K

$1.24 COP 4,023

40.32%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.2K

$1.51 COP 4,921

62.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$1.27 COP 4,118

-7.87%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.7K

$2.52 COP 8,204

-3.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.6K

$4.11 COP 13.4K

252.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.2K

$5.49 COP 17.9K

-20.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 215.3K

$7.76 COP 25.2K

54.38%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

$2.43 COP 7,909

53.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$0.91 COP 2,978

79.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.3K

$1.19 COP 3,887

130.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

$1.27 COP 4,149

76.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.5K

$0.81 COP 2,630

137.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.9K

$1.06 COP 3,455

115.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.70 COP 2,280

51.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.69 COP 2,245

4.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 59.0K

$2.85 COP 9,264

15.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.8K

$12.59 COP 41.0K

84.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$1.12 COP 3,651

148.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.1K

$1.88 COP 6,133

45.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,786

$0.68 COP 2,224

-60.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.7K

$29.88 COP 97.3K

-72.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,675

$1.54 COP 5,000

-68.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,545

$1.88 COP 6,131

-77.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.8K

$9.65 COP 31.4K

-35.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$0.99 COP 3,223

-18.18%

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

$26.6K Rp 478.2M

$21.7K COP 70.7M

22.57%

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

$32.2K Rp 578.5M

$30.4K COP 98.8M

6.06%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$83.1 COP 270.5K

-5.72%

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

$4.07 Rp 73.1K

$8.68 COP 28.2K

-53.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 437.1K

$24.16 COP 78.7K

0.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$23.67 COP 77.0K

316.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.6K

$4.97 COP 16.2K

-19.72%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

$225 COP 731.6K

35.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.4M

$5,871 COP 19.1M

13.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 972.9K

$63.2 COP 205.7K

-14.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 679.4K

$44.52 COP 144.9K

-15.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$75.6 COP 246.0K

14.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$91.1 COP 296.5K

-16.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$284 COP 923.9K

249.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$238 COP 775.4K

182.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.7M

$527 COP 1.7M

540.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$428 COP 1.4M

379.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.4M

$1,740 COP 5.7M

61.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 40.0M

$1,273 COP 4.1M

74.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$347 COP 1.1M

-51.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

11.58

14.68%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Cartago: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $284 in Cartago. 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 108% higher in Cartago, 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 $29.00 in Cartago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $185 – making Cartago 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 Cartago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 68%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,254 in Cartago. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cartago, 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 $1,408 in Ubud, Bali and $836 in Cartago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 268% less in Cartago. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cartago, where all-in costs run around $836, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Cartago it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cartago – 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 Cartago. 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.