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: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $680 in Choloma.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,141 in Choloma.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,603 in Choloma.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 107% more expensive than Choloma, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 4% above, Choloma is 49% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.8K
$5.66 HNL 151
-36.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50 Rp 590.5K
$37.07 HNL 988
-12.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 Rp 88.4K
$7.47 HNL 199
-34.94%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.9K
$2.39 HNL 63.6
15.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 Rp 24.0K
$0.96 HNL 25.59
37.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.8K
$1.14 HNL 30.33
-38.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 Rp 52.9K
$1.17 HNL 31.20
148.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 68.9K
$2.68 HNL 71.3
41.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 Rp 31.1K
$1.40 HNL 37.38
22.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 Rp 45.0K
$2.14 HNL 57.1
15.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.8K
$1.27 HNL 33.88
-5.51%
Eggs
$2.44 Rp 44.4K
$2.13 HNL 56.8
14.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.38 Rp 261.3K
$6.13 HNL 164
134.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 Rp 78.2K
$3.76 HNL 100
14.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.21 Rp 221.8K
$7.86 HNL 209
55.34%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 Rp 66.9K
$2.85 HNL 76.0
29.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 28.2K
$1.50 HNL 39.89
3.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 50.6K
$1.51 HNL 40.38
84.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 42.4K
$1.56 HNL 41.59
49.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
$1.60 HNL 42.67
23.12%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 42.0K
$1.40 HNL 37.44
65.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.3K
$0.88 HNL 23.55
20.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
$1.64 HNL 43.70
-55.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 59.6K
$2.44 HNL 65.2
34.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.79 Rp 414.1K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 Rp 51.0K
$1.36 HNL 36.15
106.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 50.5K
$1.86 HNL 49.45
49.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,290
$0.61 HNL 16.33
-52.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.06 Rp 146.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,159
$4.35 HNL 116
-89.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,207
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.24 Rp 113.3K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.4K
$1.02 HNL 27.21
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K Rp 471.9M
$18.8K HNL 502.4K
37.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 575.1M
$19.0K HNL 507.1K
66.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.5M
$81.5 HNL 2,173
-0.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 73.7K
$8.88 HNL 237
-54.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42 Rp 443.7K
$41.20 HNL 1,098
-40.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.7 Rp 1.8M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45 Rp 117.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 73.4K
$5.85 HNL 156
-30.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.5M
$252 HNL 6,722
20.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,621 Rp 120.3M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 Rp 985.2K
$45.63 HNL 1,216
18.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78 Rp 704.4K
$35.64 HNL 950
8.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.6M
$111 HNL 2,949
-22.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$102 HNL 2,727
-25.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.9M
$109 HNL 2,900
805.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 Rp 12.0M
$99.4 HNL 2,649
561.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,369 Rp 61.2M
$343 HNL 9,145
882.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,066 Rp 37.5M
$297 HNL 7,912
595.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,741 Rp 49.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,228 Rp 40.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Choloma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$163 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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Choloma: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $109 in Choloma. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $37.00 in Choloma. Groceries flip the comparison at $297 vs $188, 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 107% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,106 in Ubud, Bali and $1,019 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 $109 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 Choloma?
Supermarket bills run roughly 58% 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 vs Choloma?
All in, you'll spend $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $680 in Choloma – a 107% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Choloma?
At $680 in Choloma versus $1,404 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 107% 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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