Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Cotabato City

For one person, living is cheaper in Cotabato City: $738 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $7,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Cotabato City, Philippines
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Cotabato City
🇵🇭 Philippines
$738
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Cotabato City

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 Cotabato City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,349 in Ubud, Bali versus $738 in Cotabato City.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,349
  • Cotabato City $738

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,305 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,139 in Cotabato City.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,305
  • Cotabato City $1,139

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,261 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,539 in Cotabato City.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,261
  • Cotabato City $1,539

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 83% more expensive than in Cotabato City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Cotabato City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 60.4K
$4.81 ₱308
-30.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.64 Rp 648.1K
$16.14 ₱1,033
120.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 Rp 100.6K
$3.97 ₱254
39.29%
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.4K
$2.17 ₱139
25.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
$1.06 ₱67.7
60.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
$0.62 ₱39.81
22.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 48.3K
$1.14 ₱73.2
132.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 Rp 79.7K
$2.08 ₱133
110.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Cotabato City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 27.1K
$2.01 ₱129
-25.87%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 Rp 41.4K
$1.08 ₱68.9
111.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$0.75 ₱48.27
58.67%
Eggs
$2.04 Rp 37.0K
$1.90 ₱121
7.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.70 Rp 321.9K
$6.44 ₱412
174.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 72.1K
$4.59 ₱294
-13.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 Rp 221.7K
$9.44 ₱604
29.13%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 66.5K
$2.76 ₱176
32.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.6K
$1.10 ₱70.2
38.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
$2.40 ₱154
-7.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.9K
$1.17 ₱74.8
68.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.6K
$1.97 ₱126
-6.09%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 44.1K
$3.30 ₱211
-26.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
$1.24 ₱79.1
-20.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,336
$0.66 ₱42.21
-22.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 40.4K
$2.40 ₱154
-7.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 404.4K
$8.03 ₱514
176.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 41.1K
$1.27 ₱81.0
77.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 54.0K
$1.64 ₱105
81.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Cotabato City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,564
$0.22 ₱14.00
13.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.82 Rp 142.3K
$11.32 ₱724
-30.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,992
$0.76 ₱48.37
-42.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,821
$0.22 ₱13.99
95.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 Rp 98.4K
$1.85 ₱118
192.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
$1.10 ₱70.3
-25.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 433.5M
$20.8K ₱1.3M
14.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 577.3M
$18.8K ₱1.2M
69.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Cotabato City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$108 ₱6,886
-26.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 117.2K
$18.43 ₱1,180
-65.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.58 Rp 337.8K
$30.97 ₱1,982
-40.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Cotabato City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 Rp 899.8K
$30.96 ₱1,981
59.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 Rp 320.9K
$5.25 ₱336
236.19%
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 Rp 77.7K
$4.73 ₱302
-9.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Cotabato City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.9M
$105 ₱6,694
368.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,674 Rp 103.2M
$7,282 ₱466.0K
-22.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Cotabato City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64 Rp 811.7K
$32.48 ₱2,078
37.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 Rp 635.6K
$19.49 ₱1,247
79.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.5M
$69.5 ₱4,445
15.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$60.5 ₱3,868
31.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Cotabato City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 Rp 20.5M
$224 ₱14.3K
401.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 12.2M
$153 ₱9,769
339.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,565 Rp 64.8M
$447 ₱28.6K
696.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
$333 ₱21.3K
417.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,732 Rp 49.7M
$2,692 ₱172.2K
1.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 Rp 41.5M
$1,003 ₱64.2K
127.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Cotabato City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
8.31
65.82%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Last update for Cotabato City: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$672
Cotabato City
$153 77.3% $519
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$288
Cotabato City
$199 31.1% $90
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Cotabato City
$93 13.5% $15
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Cotabato City
$82 23.9% $26
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$104
Cotabato City
$157 50.8% $53
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$58
Cotabato City
$40 30.4% $18
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Cotabato City
$14 22.9% $2.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,125 in Ubud, Bali and $224 in Cotabato City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36 in Ubud, Bali vs $16 in Cotabato City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $199 per month, with Cotabato City cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇵🇭 Cotabato City
🕒 Local time
11:09 11:09 AM
11:09 11:09 AM
Same time as Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
325,079
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 18,183 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.5 USD). 1 EUR = 20,242 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 63.99 PHP (100 PHP = 1.56 USD). 1 EUR = 71.24 PHP (100 PHP = 1.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Cotabato City 2,010 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Cotabato City

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 Cotabato City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Cotabato City?
Cotabato City wins on cost – living expenses run 45% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Cotabato City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Cotabato City?
You’d need roughly $2,023 in Ubud, Bali and $1,107 in Cotabato City 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Cotabato City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,125 in Ubud, Bali versus $224 in Cotabato City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Cotabato City?
All in, you’ll spend $1,349 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $738 in Cotabato City – Cotabato City is about 45% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali compared to Cotabato City?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 31% less than in Cotabato City. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ubud, Bali or Cotabato City?
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.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

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