Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Columbia, TN

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,331 a month against $2,307 in Columbia, TN, rent and utilities included – about $11,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Columbia, TN, United States
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,331
/mo nomad
Columbia, TN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,307
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Columbia, TN

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Columbia, TN actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,331 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,307 in Columbia, TN.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,331
  • Columbia, TN $2,307

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,483 in Columbia, TN.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,255
  • Columbia, TN $3,483

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,180 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,659 in Columbia, TN.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,180
  • Columbia, TN $4,659

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 42% less than in Columbia, TN, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 2% below, Columbia, TN is 71% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Columbia, TN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.38 Rp 61.1K
$12.03 $12.03
-71.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.65 Rp 627.3K
$61.0 $61.0
-43.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.57 Rp 100.9K
$9.95 $9.95
-44.02%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.4K
$3.94 $3.94
-33.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 Rp 27.9K
$2.16 $2.16
-28.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 Rp 11.6K
$1.62 $1.62
-60.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.67 Rp 48.3K
$6.32 $6.32
-57.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 Rp 77.2K
$7.45 $7.45
-42.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Columbia, TN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 Rp 26.5K
$0.95 $0.95
53.68%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 Rp 41.5K
$2.90 $2.90
-21.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 20.0K
$3.95 $3.95
-71.90%
Eggs
$2.10 Rp 38.0K
$2.62 $2.62
-19.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 Rp 288.6K
$12.98 $12.98
22.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 Rp 70.3K
$6.43 $6.43
-39.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.40 Rp 206.4K
$13.42 $13.42
-15.05%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 64.3K
$5.52 $5.52
-35.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 27.8K
$1.21 $1.21
27.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
$5.81 $5.81
-61.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.7K
$4.05 $4.05
-51.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 Rp 33.6K
$3.14 $3.14
-40.76%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 43.8K
$4.12 $4.12
-41.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.6K
$2.43 $2.43
-58.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,456
$2.18 $2.18
-76.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.20 Rp 39.8K
$9.11 $9.11
-75.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.79 Rp 394.4K
$12.94 $12.94
68.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 Rp 42.1K
$1.76 $1.76
32.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.8K
$2.11 $2.11
40.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Columbia, TN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,533
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 148.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,925
$1.98 $1.98
-77.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,472
$1.15 $1.15
-59.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 101.4K
$19.78 $19.78
-71.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$0.75 $0.75
10.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K Rp 442.6M
$27.4K $27.4K
-10.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 573.8M
$27.5K $27.5K
15.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Columbia, TN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
$152 $152
-49.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.14 Rp 111.2K
$60.5 $60.5
-89.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.92 Rp 342.4K
$75.9 $75.9
-75.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Columbia, TN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 Rp 923.1K
$35.50 $35.50
43.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.25 Rp 330.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 79.3K
$12.57 $12.57
-65.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Columbia, TN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$492 Rp 8.9M
$1,693 $1,693
-70.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K Rp 221.2M
$26.4K $26.4K
-53.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Columbia, TN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.16 Rp 817.6K
$39.71 $39.71
13.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.89 Rp 631.6K
$32.13 $32.13
8.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
$82.5 $82.5
-5.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$90.2 $90.2
-13.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Columbia, TN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 Rp 19.5M
$1,440 $1,440
-25.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 Rp 12.0M
$1,258 $1,258
-47.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,510 Rp 63.5M
$2,544 $2,544
37.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,671 Rp 30.2M
$2,366 $2,366
-29.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,340 Rp 42.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,236 Rp 40.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Columbia, TN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
6.6
108.79%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: November 1, 2026

Last update for Columbia, TN: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$665
Columbia, TN
$1.3K 89.2% $593
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$279
Columbia, TN
$347 24.1% $67
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$106
Columbia, TN
$110 3.5% $3.8
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Columbia, TN
$235 122% $129
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$103
Columbia, TN
$289 182% $186
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$60
Columbia, TN
$61 1.5% $0.9
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Columbia, TN
$7.7 * 35.2% $4.2

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,078 in Ubud, Bali and $1,440 in Columbia, TN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35 in Ubud, Bali vs $61 in Columbia, TN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $279 vs $347 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇺🇸 Columbia, TN
🕒 Local time
06:58 6:58 AM
16:58 4:58 PM
14 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
672,228
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18,103 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.52 USD). 1 EUR = 20,231 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.895 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Columbia, TN 16,250 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Columbia, TN

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Columbia, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Columbia, TN?
Ubud, Bali is about 42% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, utilities, and groceries. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $1,996 in Ubud, Bali and $3,460 in Columbia, TN 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 Columbia, TN?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,078 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,440 in Columbia, TN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $492 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,693 in Columbia, TN. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or in Columbia, TN?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $35 versus $61 in Columbia, TN. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 enough to cover costs in Ubud, Bali or in Columbia, TN?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Ubud, Bali is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is it better to live in Ubud, Bali or in Columbia, TN?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Columbia, TN?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Columbia, TN are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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