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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,078 in Castro, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,662 in Castro, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,246 in Castro, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 32% more than Castro, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Castro is 20% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

$8.44 CLP 7,548

-57.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

$45.13 CLP 40.4K

-27.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

$8.22 CLP 7,351

-39.78%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

$2.80 CLP 2,505

-3.21%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

$1.36 CLP 1,221

-1.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$1.06 CLP 946

-33.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

$3.32 CLP 2,966

-12.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

$4.19 CLP 3,749

-5.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

$1.09 CLP 979

66.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

$1.51 CLP 1,354

66.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

$1.38 CLP 1,237

-15.94%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$4.32 CLP 3,863

-43.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

$10.05 CLP 8,990

46.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

$4.33 CLP 3,877

-0.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

$8.78 CLP 7,854

38.27%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

$1.48 CLP 1,327

159.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

$2.43 CLP 2,174

-35.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

$1.59 CLP 1,420

77.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

$2.11 CLP 1,888

10.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

$1.20 CLP 1,072

59.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

$1.42 CLP 1,268

54.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

$1.28 CLP 1,142

-21.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$1.23 CLP 1,103

-36.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

$5.37 CLP 4,803

-38.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

$8.45 CLP 7,557

180.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

$1.54 CLP 1,376

81.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

$2.23 CLP 1,994

28.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,819

$0.76 CLP 682

-64.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,181

$0.48 CLP 425

-4.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,068

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.38 CLP 1,230

-42.75%

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

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

$19.3K CLP 17.3M

35.55%

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

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

$21.0K CLP 18.8M

52.77%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$131 CLP 117.3K

-39.03%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

$13.36 CLP 12.0K

-69.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

$22.24 CLP 19.9K

5.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$38.17 CLP 34.1K

158.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

$21.55 CLP 19.3K

-69.23%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

$5.77 CLP 5,162

-28.08%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$443 CLP 396.1K

-31.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

$51.6 CLP 46.1K

7.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

$30.17 CLP 27.0K

26.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$62.4 CLP 55.9K

41.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$82.2 CLP 73.6K

-5.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$474 CLP 424.2K

112.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$366 CLP 327.3K

84.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

$885 CLP 791.5K

289.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

$630 CLP 563.5K

223.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$685 CLP 612.8K

-75.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

5.18

156.37%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Castro: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $474 in Castro. 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 315% higher in Castro, 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 $45.00 in Castro. Groceries tell a different story – $302 in Ubud, Bali vs $221 in Castro – so Castro wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Castro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 32% more than Castro, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,617 in Castro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Castro, 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 $1,078 in Castro. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $443 in Castro. 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 Castro, where all-in costs run around $1,078, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Castro it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Castro costs $1,078 versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Castro. 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.