😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,397 in Ubud, Bali versus $699 in Choloma.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,588 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,166 in Choloma.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,778 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,633 in Choloma.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 100% more expensive than in Choloma, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Choloma is 48% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.43Rp 61.6K
$5.78HNL 155
-40.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.97Rp 574.4K
$37.84HNL 1,012
-15.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.05Rp 90.8K
$7.82HNL 209
-35.42%
Cappuccino
$2.71Rp 48.8K
$2.35HNL 62.8
15.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39Rp 25.0K
$0.96HNL 25.63
44.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74Rp 13.3K
$1.14HNL 30.46
-35.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.89Rp 52.0K
$1.14HNL 30.46
153.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79Rp 68.1K
$2.65HNL 70.9
43.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79Rp 32.2K
$1.39HNL 37.17
28.78%
White Bread(500g)
$2.51Rp 45.0K
$2.09HNL 56.0
20.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21Rp 21.8K
$1.23HNL 33.02
-1.63%
Eggs
$2.37Rp 42.5K
$2.04HNL 54.7
16.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.43Rp 259.3K
$6.14HNL 164
135.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.15Rp 74.6K
$3.74HNL 100
10.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.11Rp 217.7K
$8.16HNL 218
48.41%
Apples(1kg)
$3.77Rp 67.7K
$2.87HNL 76.7
31.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.2K
$1.50HNL 40.09
8.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.71Rp 48.6K
$1.47HNL 39.22
84.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26Rp 40.5K
$1.51HNL 40.42
49.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.93Rp 34.6K
$1.59HNL 42.60
21.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19Rp 39.4K
$1.35HNL 35.98
62.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02Rp 18.3K
$0.85HNL 22.70
20.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.9K
$1.65HNL 44.00
-56.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18Rp 57.2K
$2.44HNL 65.3
30.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.84Rp 428.3K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.77Rp 49.8K
$1.34HNL 35.77
106.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75Rp 49.4K
$1.84HNL 49.09
49.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,802
$0.57HNL 15.36
-52.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.20Rp 147.3K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,684
$4.31HNL 115
-88.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,571
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.03Rp 108.3K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82Rp 14.7K
$1.02HNL 27.37
-19.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KRp 477.3M
$19.1KHNL 509.8K
39.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2KRp 578.6M
$19.5KHNL 522.4K
64.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.3Rp 1.4M
$83.8HNL 2,241
-6.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.91Rp 70.3K
$9.09HNL 243
-56.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.91Rp 429.7K
$41.29HNL 1,105
-42.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$96.2Rp 1.7M
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.53Rp 117.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.01Rp 72.1K
$5.73HNL 153
-30.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303Rp 5.4M
$252HNL 6,736
20.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,551Rp 117.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3Rp 993.9K
$45.43HNL 1,215
21.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.32Rp 688.6K
$36.56HNL 978
4.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.5Rp 1.6M
$109HNL 2,917
-18.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7Rp 1.4M
$104HNL 2,787
-26.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$986Rp 17.7M
$108HNL 2,897
810.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$682Rp 12.3M
$99.3HNL 2,656
586.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,420Rp 61.5M
$350HNL 9,350
878.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,075Rp 37.3M
$297HNL 7,943
598.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,762Rp 49.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,243Rp 40.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$169Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
12
10.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 22, 2026
Last update for Choloma: July 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $108 in Choloma. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $38.00 in Choloma. Groceries flip the comparison at $298 vs $187, with Choloma cheaper for home cooking.
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 Choloma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Choloma cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Choloma is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 100% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,096 in Ubud, Bali and $1,049 in Choloma 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 Choloma?
Rent for a central apartment: $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $108 in Choloma. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Choloma?
Supermarket bills run roughly 59% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali and in Choloma?
All in, you'll spend $1,397 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $699 in Choloma – a 100% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Choloma?
At $699 in Choloma versus $1,397 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Choloma but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Choloma the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Choloma more family-friendly?
For families, Choloma is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Choloma?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Choloma 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Choloma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared