Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Ciudad del Este Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Ciudad del Este

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $391 in Ciudad del Este, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $758 in Ciudad del Este, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,125 in Ciudad del Este, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 263% more than Ciudad del Este, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Ciudad del Este is 71% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

$2.44 ₲14.8K

45.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$15.15 ₲92.3K

116.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$4.13 ₲25.1K

19.85%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$1.63 ₲9,932

66.26%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$0.83 ₲5,052

61.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.49 ₲2,999

42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$1.23 ₲7,483

137.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

$1.89 ₲11.5K

109.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$0.72 ₲4,406

151.39%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

$0.96 ₲5,824

162.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$0.94 ₲5,710

23.40%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$1.60 ₲9,737

53.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

$6.32 ₲38.5K

132.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

$2.79 ₲17.0K

54.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

$5.46 ₲33.3K

122.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

$1.54 ₲9,383

149.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

$0.78 ₲4,754

100.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

$0.90 ₲5,459

214.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

$1.00 ₲6,084

133.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$0.57 ₲3,475

235.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

$0.70 ₲4,267

214.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$0.40 ₲2,427

152.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$0.30 ₲1,803

160.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

$1.03 ₲6,257

222.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

$5.00 ₲30.5K

374.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

$0.58 ₲3,511

381.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

$1.39 ₲8,463

105.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$0.62 ₲3,770

-56.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

$0.66 ₲4,027

-30.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

$0.77 ₲4,716

-41.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

$8.93 ₲54.4K

-31.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.83 ₲5,028

-4.82%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

$14.4K ₲87.9M

81.33%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

$23.6K ₲144.0M

35.89%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$41.68 ₲254.0K

91.79%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

$13.91 ₲84.8K

-70.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

$13.19 ₲80.4K

78.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$18.73 ₲114.1K

426.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

$4.00 ₲24.4K

3.75%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$304 Rp 5.4M

$167 ₲1.0M

82.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

$1,369 ₲8.3M

383.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

$48.91 ₲298.0K

13.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

$31.65 ₲192.9K

21.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$72.2 ₲439.9K

22.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$52.1 ₲317.5K

49.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

$300 ₲1.8M

580.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

$1,786 ₲10.9M

59.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

$1,330 ₲8.1M

70.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$635 ₲3.9M

-73.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

10.17

30.58%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ciudad del Este: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 284% higher in Ciudad del Este, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $15.00 in Ciudad del Este. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $121 – making Ciudad del Este the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Ciudad del Este: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 263%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $586 in Ciudad del Este. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $15.00 in Ciudad del Este. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 149% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ciudad del Este, where all-in costs run around $391, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Ciudad del Este it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ciudad del Este – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Ciudad del Este. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.