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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,075 in Castro, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,630 in Castro, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,184 in Castro, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 31% more than Castro, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Castro is 20% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.1K

$8.77 CLP 8,183

-60.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 581.1K

$44.44 CLP 41.5K

-27.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 87.1K

$8.03 CLP 7,500

-39.73%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

$2.84 CLP 2,655

-3.17%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.9K

$1.30 CLP 1,215

6.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$1.06 CLP 992

-29.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.8K

$3.16 CLP 2,952

-5.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.2K

$4.14 CLP 3,864

-7.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.2K

$1.13 CLP 1,053

53.98%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.2K

$1.48 CLP 1,379

66.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$1.38 CLP 1,284

-15.22%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.7K

$4.44 CLP 4,142

-45.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.6K

$10.17 CLP 9,493

42.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.2K

$4.33 CLP 4,042

0.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 215.3K

$8.89 CLP 8,296

34.76%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

$1.43 CLP 1,339

160.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$2.33 CLP 2,173

-30.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.3K

$1.58 CLP 1,475

73.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

$2.10 CLP 1,958

6.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.5K

$1.23 CLP 1,148

56.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.9K

$1.36 CLP 1,267

67.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$1.21 CLP 1,132

-12.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$1.22 CLP 1,138

-40.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 59.0K

$5.28 CLP 4,933

-37.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.8K

$7.92 CLP 7,390

192.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$1.55 CLP 1,442

79.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.1K

$2.21 CLP 2,060

23.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,786

$0.75 CLP 702

-64.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,675

$0.48 CLP 448

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,545

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$1.36 CLP 1,272

-40.44%

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

$26.6K Rp 478.2M

$19.6K CLP 18.3M

35.78%

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

$32.2K Rp 578.5M

$21.7K CLP 20.2M

48.55%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$129 CLP 120.8K

-39.44%

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

$4.07 Rp 73.1K

$13.38 CLP 12.5K

-69.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 437.1K

$21.73 CLP 20.3K

11.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$39.23 CLP 36.6K

151.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.9K

$21.09 CLP 19.7K

-69.94%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.6K

$5.49 CLP 5,129

-27.32%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

$433 CLP 404.5K

-29.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 972.9K

$51.1 CLP 47.7K

5.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 679.4K

$30.65 CLP 28.6K

23.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$61.7 CLP 57.6K

40.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$82.8 CLP 77.3K

-7.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$474 CLP 442.3K

109.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$369 CLP 344.3K

82.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.7M

$882 CLP 823.5K

282.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$623 CLP 581.9K

228.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 40.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$636 CLP 594.0K

-73.76%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Castro: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 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 281% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $44.00 in Castro. Groceries tell a different story – $297 in Ubud, Bali vs $220 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 31% 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 $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,613 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 $1,408 in Ubud, Bali and $1,075 in Castro. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Ubud, Bali and $433 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 $1,075, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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 $1,075 versus $1,408 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.