Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Changshu

For one person, living is cheaper in Changshu: $712 a month against $1,331 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $7,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Changshu, China
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,331
/mo nomad
Changshu
🇨🇳 China
$712
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Changshu

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,331 in Ubud, Bali versus $712 in Changshu.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,331
  • Changshu $712

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,135 in Changshu.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,255
  • Changshu $1,135

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,180 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,558 in Changshu.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,180
  • Changshu $1,558

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 87% more expensive than in Changshu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ubud, Bali 2% lower, Changshu 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Changshu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.38 Rp 61.0K
$2.86 ¥19.01
18.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.65 Rp 626.3K
$22.02 ¥147
57.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.57 Rp 100.7K
$5.01 ¥33.36
11.18%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.3K
$2.95 ¥19.66
-11.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 Rp 27.8K
$0.47 ¥3.10
227.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 Rp 11.6K
$0.27 ¥1.79
137.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.67 Rp 48.2K
$0.94 ¥6.27
184.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 Rp 77.1K
$2.03 ¥13.54
109.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Changshu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 Rp 26.4K
$1.78 ¥11.84
-17.98%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 Rp 41.4K
$1.60 ¥10.65
43.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 20.0K
$0.90 ¥5.96
23.33%
Eggs
$2.10 Rp 38.0K
$1.59 ¥10.58
32.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 Rp 288.1K
$12.91 ¥86.0
23.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 Rp 70.2K
$3.13 ¥20.86
23.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.40 Rp 206.1K
$10.04 ¥66.8
13.55%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 64.2K
$1.82 ¥12.13
95.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 27.8K
$1.25 ¥8.30
23.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.3K
$1.48 ¥9.86
50.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.6K
$1.14 ¥7.56
72.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 Rp 33.6K
$0.70 ¥4.67
165.71%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 43.7K
$0.94 ¥6.29
157.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.5K
$0.56 ¥3.76
82.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,441
$0.54 ¥3.62
-3.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.20 Rp 39.7K
$3.16 ¥21.07
-30.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.79 Rp 393.8K
$10.53 ¥70.1
106.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 Rp 42.0K
$0.80 ¥5.33
191.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.7K
$1.65 ¥10.99
80.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Changshu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,526
$0.27 ¥1.77
-7.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 147.8K
$16.99 ¥113
-51.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,912
$1.43 ¥9.52
-69.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,458
$0.33 ¥2.19
42.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 101.2K
$6.88 ¥45.79
-18.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$1.17 ¥7.76
-29.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K Rp 441.9M
$19.1K ¥127.4K
27.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 572.9M
$17.1K ¥113.9K
85.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Changshu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
$45.53 ¥303
70.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.14 Rp 111.1K
$9.56 ¥63.6
-35.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.92 Rp 341.9K
$11.58 ¥77.1
63.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Changshu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 Rp 921.7K
$41.24 ¥275
23.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.25 Rp 329.8K
$14.17 ¥94.3
28.79%
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 79.2K
$6.03 ¥40.18
-27.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Changshu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$492 Rp 8.9M
$333 ¥2,214
48.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K Rp 220.9M
$16.8K ¥111.8K
-27.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Changshu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.16 Rp 816.3K
$44.16 ¥294
2.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.89 Rp 630.6K
$30.30 ¥202
15.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
$71.5 ¥476
9.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$71.4 ¥475
9.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Changshu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 Rp 19.5M
$283 ¥1,881
281.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 Rp 12.0M
$190 ¥1,265
249.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,510 Rp 63.4M
$591 ¥3,938
493.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,671 Rp 30.2M
$367 ¥2,444
355.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,340 Rp 42.3M
$3,049 ¥20.3K
-23.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,236 Rp 40.4M
$2,030 ¥13.5K
10.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Changshu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
3.89
254.24%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: November 1, 2026

Last update for Changshu: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$665
Changshu
$190 71.4% $475
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$279
Changshu
$198 29.3% $82
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$106
Changshu
$98 8% $8.5
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Changshu
$85 19.6% $21
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$103
Changshu
$67 35% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$60
Changshu
$53 10.8% $6.4
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Changshu
$21 76.8% $9.2

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,078 in Ubud, Bali and $283 in Changshu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35 in Ubud, Bali vs $22 in Changshu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $279 vs $198 per month, with Changshu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇨🇳 Changshu
🕒 Local time
18:28 6:28 PM
18:28 6:28 PM
Same time as Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
1,677,050
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18,075 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.53 USD). 1 EUR = 20,300 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.93 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 6.66 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.48 CNY (1 CNY = 0.134 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Changshu 4,500 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Changshu

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 Changshu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Changshu cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Changshu is about 47% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $1,996 in Ubud, Bali and $1,067 in Changshu to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Changshu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,078 in Ubud, Bali versus $283 in Changshu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or in Changshu?
Dining out is cheaper in Changshu – a meal for two runs $22 versus $35 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali and in Changshu?
All in, you’ll spend $1,331 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $712 in Changshu – Changshu is about 47% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Changshu?
At $712 in Changshu versus $1,331 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Changshu but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Changshu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Ubud, Bali or in Changshu?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Changshu?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Changshu are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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