Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Chester, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Chester, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,717 in Chester, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,952 in Chester, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Ubud, Bali versus $5,186 in Chester, CA.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 48% less than in Chester, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 4% above, Chester, CA 102% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Chester, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
$14.75 $14.75
-75.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
$55.2 $55.2
-41.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
$10.68 $10.68
-54.49%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
$5.38 $5.38
-48.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
$2.01 $2.01
-34.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
$1.51 $1.51
-53.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
$5.12 $5.12
-43.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
$6.61 $6.61
-42.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Chester, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
$1.17 $1.17
46.15%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
$4.26 $4.26
-42.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
$5.58 $5.58
-78.49%
Eggs
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
$4.43 $4.43
-44.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
$15.41 $15.41
-6.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
$14.83 $14.83
-70.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
$18.69 $18.69
-34.67%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
$5.27 $5.27
-30.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
$1.99 $1.99
-22.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
$4.14 $4.14
-32.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
$6.75 $6.75
-65.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
$3.77 $3.77
-47.75%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
$4.78 $4.78
-51.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$2.70 $2.70
-60.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
$2.50 $2.50
-70.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
$8.90 $8.90
-63.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
$15.68 $15.68
45.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
$2.06 $2.06
36.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$2.94 $2.94
-5.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Chester, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,217
$1.96 $1.96
-85.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,047
$3.92 $3.92
-88.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,094
$1.87 $1.87
-75.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
$27.73 $27.73
-77.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
$1.05 $1.05
-19.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
$30.2K $30.2K
-14.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
$28.4K $28.4K
11.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Chester, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
$245 $245
-67.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
$60.3 $60.3
-93.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
$75.5 $75.5
-67.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Chester, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
$42.56 $42.56
129.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
$14.15 $14.15
-71.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Chester, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$1,668 $1,668
-81.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
$27.9K $27.9K
-76.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Chester, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
$58.5 $58.5
-7.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
$63.2 $63.2
-38.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$94.4 $94.4
-8.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$128 $128
-40.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Chester, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.7M
$1,621 $1,621
-39.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 Rp 11.8M
$1,338 $1,338
-50.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
$2,603 $2,603
29.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
$2,250 $2,250
-8.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
$2,970 $2,970
-7.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
$2,076 $2,076
7.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Chester, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$163 Rp 2.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6.5
104.31%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Chester, CA: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $1,621 in Chester, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $55.0 in Chester, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $469 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

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 Chester, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Chester, CA?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 93% lower than in Chester, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali vs Chester, CA?
You'd need roughly $2,106 in Ubud, Bali and $4,076 in Chester, CA 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali vs Chester, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,621 in Chester, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or Chester, CA?
Supermarket bills run roughly 58% higher in Chester, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Chester, CA?
All in, you'll spend $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,717 in Chester, CA – a 93% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Chester, CA?
At $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,717 in Chester, CA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Chester, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Chester, CA?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,404 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Chester, CA?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Chester, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% less than in Chester, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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