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

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$3.43 Rp 61.6K
$5.78 HNL 155
-40.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.97 Rp 574.4K
$37.84 HNL 1,012
-15.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.05 Rp 90.8K
$7.82 HNL 209
-35.42%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.8K
$2.35 HNL 62.8
15.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 Rp 25.0K
$0.96 HNL 25.63
44.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 Rp 13.3K
$1.14 HNL 30.46
-35.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.89 Rp 52.0K
$1.14 HNL 30.46
153.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 68.1K
$2.65 HNL 70.9
43.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 Rp 32.2K
$1.39 HNL 37.17
28.78%
White Bread (500g)
$2.51 Rp 45.0K
$2.09 HNL 56.0
20.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 Rp 21.8K
$1.23 HNL 33.02
-1.63%
Eggs
$2.37 Rp 42.5K
$2.04 HNL 54.7
16.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.43 Rp 259.3K
$6.14 HNL 164
135.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.15 Rp 74.6K
$3.74 HNL 100
10.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.11 Rp 217.7K
$8.16 HNL 218
48.41%
Apples (1kg)
$3.77 Rp 67.7K
$2.87 HNL 76.7
31.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$1.50 HNL 40.09
8.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.71 Rp 48.6K
$1.47 HNL 39.22
84.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 Rp 40.5K
$1.51 HNL 40.42
49.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 Rp 34.6K
$1.59 HNL 42.60
21.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 39.4K
$1.35 HNL 35.98
62.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.3K
$0.85 HNL 22.70
20.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$1.65 HNL 44.00
-56.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18 Rp 57.2K
$2.44 HNL 65.3
30.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.84 Rp 428.3K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.77 Rp 49.8K
$1.34 HNL 35.77
106.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
$1.84 HNL 49.09
49.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,802
$0.57 HNL 15.36
-52.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.20 Rp 147.3K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,684
$4.31 HNL 115
-88.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,571
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.03 Rp 108.3K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.7K
$1.02 HNL 27.37
-19.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 477.3M
$19.1K HNL 509.8K
39.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 578.6M
$19.5K HNL 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)
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
$83.8 HNL 2,241
-6.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.91 Rp 70.3K
$9.09 HNL 243
-56.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.91 Rp 429.7K
$41.29 HNL 1,105
-42.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.2 Rp 1.7M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.53 Rp 117.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rp 72.1K
$5.73 HNL 153
-30.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.4M
$252 HNL 6,736
20.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,551 Rp 117.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3 Rp 993.9K
$45.43 HNL 1,215
21.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.32 Rp 688.6K
$36.56 HNL 978
4.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.5 Rp 1.6M
$109 HNL 2,917
-18.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$104 HNL 2,787
-26.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.7M
$108 HNL 2,897
810.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$682 Rp 12.3M
$99.3 HNL 2,656
586.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,420 Rp 61.5M
$350 HNL 9,350
878.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,075 Rp 37.3M
$297 HNL 7,943
598.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,762 Rp 49.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,243 Rp 40.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$169 Rp 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.

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