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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,341 in Chester, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,445 in Chester, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,549 in Chester, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 39% cheaper than Chester, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Chester sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 6%, Chester by 75%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Chester
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
$20.12 £14.96
-82.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
$95.7 £71.1
-65.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
$9.65 £7.17
-48.70%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
$4.70 £3.49
-42.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
$2.37 £1.76
-43.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$2.01 £1.49
-65.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
$6.46 £4.80
-54.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
$6.22 £4.62
-36.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Chester
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
$1.65 £1.23
9.70%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
$1.64 £1.22
53.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
$2.18 £1.62
-46.79%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
$3.94 £2.93
-37.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
$8.30 £6.17
77.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
$8.76 £6.51
-50.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
$8.35 £6.21
45.39%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
$2.87 £2.13
33.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
$1.60 £1.19
-2.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
$4.06 £3.02
-30.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
$2.28 £1.70
2.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
$1.34 £1.00
42.54%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
$1.40 £1.04
57.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
$1.28 £0.95
-21.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
$1.27 £0.95
-38.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
$20.63 £15.33
-83.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
$11.58 £8.61
105.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
$3.04 £2.26
-8.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
$2.90 £2.16
-1.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Chester
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,800
$4.09 £3.04
-93.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
$47.78 £35.51
-83.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,150
$4.04 £3.00
-88.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,037
$0.76 £0.56
-40.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
$16.62 £12.35
-63.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$1.88 £1.40
-57.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
$38.8K £28.8K
-32.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
$37.1K £27.6K
-13.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Chester
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$319 £237
-74.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
$23.57 £17.52
-82.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
$42.66 £31.71
-44.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Chester
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$39.45 £29.32
150.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
$13.74 £10.21
-51.75%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
$13.75 £10.22
-69.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Chester
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$1,617 £1,202
-81.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
$13.3K £9,901
-50.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Chester
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
$89.5 £66.5
-37.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
$51.1 £37.99
-25.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$126 £93.6
-29.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$129 £96.2
-39.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Chester
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
$1,361 £1,012
-26.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
$1,086 £807
-37.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
$2,105 £1,564
63.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
$1,767 £1,313
15.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
$3,048 £2,266
-6.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
$3,012 £2,238
-24.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Chester
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$4,182 £3,109
-96.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
5.6
137.14%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chester: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,361 in Chester. 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 2431% higher in Chester, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $96.0 in Chester. Groceries tell a different story – $302 in Ubud, Bali vs $274 in Chester – so Chester 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 Chester: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Chester?
Chester costs about 65% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali vs Chester?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,511 in Chester. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Chester?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and Chester?
Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,617 in Chester. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or Chester?
Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Chester – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Chester?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,419, than in Chester at $2,341. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chester it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Chester?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,419 versus $2,341 in Chester. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Chester?
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.
Should I move to Ubud, Bali or Chester?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chester makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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