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 $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $821 in Cartago, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,255 in Cartago, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,689 in Cartago, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 73% more than Cartago, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Cartago is 39% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

$3.71 COP 13.3K

-4.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$28.89 COP 103.2K

13.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$7.33 COP 26.2K

-32.47%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$1.57 COP 5,610

72.61%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$0.92 COP 3,289

45.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.59 COP 2,112

18.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$1.01 COP 3,622

189.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

$2.59 COP 9,265

52.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$1.23 COP 4,398

47.15%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

$1.53 COP 5,454

64.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$1.25 COP 4,452

-7.20%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$2.46 COP 8,767

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

$4.35 COP 15.5K

238.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

$5.48 COP 19.6K

-21.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

$7.55 COP 26.9K

60.79%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

$2.46 COP 8,802

56.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

$0.92 COP 3,300

69.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

$1.14 COP 4,073

148.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

$1.32 COP 4,714

76.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$0.87 COP 3,102

119.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

$1.11 COP 3,952

98.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$0.71 COP 2,542

42.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$0.70 COP 2,501

11.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

$2.81 COP 10.0K

18.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

$11.32 COP 40.4K

109.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

$1.06 COP 3,781

163.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

$1.95 COP 6,969

46.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$0.69 COP 2,463

-60.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

$29.69 COP 106.0K

-72.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

$1.52 COP 5,442

-69.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

$1.89 COP 6,741

-76.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

$9.87 COP 35.2K

-38.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.94 COP 3,359

-15.96%

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

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

$21.8K COP 78.0M

19.78%

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

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

$30.0K COP 107.1M

7.08%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$80.6 COP 287.7K

-0.79%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

$8.70 COP 31.1K

-53.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

$24.15 COP 86.2K

-2.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$23.66 COP 84.5K

317.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

$4.91 COP 17.5K

-15.48%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$224 COP 799.3K

35.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

$5,901 COP 21.1M

12.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

$63.6 COP 227.1K

-12.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

$44.20 COP 157.8K

-13.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$77.4 COP 276.2K

14.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$90.4 COP 322.8K

-13.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$281 COP 1.0M

258.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$238 COP 849.6K

183.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

$527 COP 1.9M

553.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

$424 COP 1.5M

381.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

$1,428 COP 5.1M

98.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

$1,172 COP 4.2M

93.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$308 COP 1.1M

-46.38%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Cartago: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $281 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 86% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $29.00 in Cartago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $182 – 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 73%, 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 $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,231 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 $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $821 in Cartago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 270% 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 $821, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. 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.