😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,249 in Cozumel.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,012 in Cozumel.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,275 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,775 in Cozumel.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 10% more expensive than in Cozumel, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Cozumel is 9% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Cozumel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33Rp 58.7K
$9.55MX$162
-65.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.82Rp 630.7K
$47.81MX$811
-25.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.63Rp 99.1K
$8.87MX$151
-36.53%
Cappuccino
$2.82Rp 49.7K
$2.99MX$50.8
-5.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75Rp 30.8K
$1.16MX$19.60
50.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80Rp 14.0K
$1.09MX$18.46
-26.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.04Rp 53.6K
$1.73MX$29.39
75.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30Rp 75.7K
$3.42MX$58.0
25.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Cozumel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61Rp 28.3K
$1.59MX$27.00
1.26%
White Bread(500g)
$2.27Rp 39.9K
$1.80MX$30.53
26.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17Rp 20.6K
$1.86MX$31.56
-37.10%
Eggs
$2.17Rp 38.2K
$2.04MX$34.52
6.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.63Rp 310.5K
$10.87MX$184
62.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.05Rp 71.4K
$8.53MX$145
-52.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.18Rp 214.5K
$13.61MX$231
-10.51%
Apples(1kg)
$3.62Rp 63.7K
$2.63MX$44.55
37.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64Rp 28.8K
$1.49MX$25.28
10.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31Rp 40.6K
$2.37MX$40.25
-2.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96Rp 34.5K
$1.62MX$27.42
20.99%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84Rp 32.5K
$2.47MX$41.90
-25.51%
Onion(1kg)
$2.37Rp 41.7K
$1.88MX$31.95
26.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05Rp 18.5K
$1.58MX$26.87
-33.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54Rp 9,560
$1.26MX$21.44
-57.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30Rp 40.6K
$4.81MX$81.6
-52.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.08Rp 406.4K
$11.69MX$198
97.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34Rp 41.2K
$1.62MX$27.40
44.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07Rp 54.0K
$2.79MX$47.37
10.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Cozumel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25Rp 4,365
$0.69MX$11.76
-63.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.42Rp 165.9K
$70.7MX$1,200
-86.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.49Rp 8,631
$2.91MX$49.30
-83.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.47Rp 8,349
$3.22MX$54.6
-85.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.60Rp 98.6K
$9.28MX$157
-39.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.2K
$1.45MX$24.67
-44.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KRp 440.3M
$21.7KMX$367.6K
15.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1KRp 547.0M
$25.6KMX$434.9K
21.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Cozumel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.7Rp 1.5M
$62.7MX$1,063
31.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49Rp 114.2K
$22.47MX$381
-71.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.79Rp 330.8K
$23.64MX$401
-20.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Cozumel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.2Rp 972.6K
$41.09MX$697
34.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.21Rp 320.6K
$21.83MX$370
-16.58%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30Rp 75.7K
$6.43MX$109
-33.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Cozumel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$494Rp 8.7M
$277MX$4,707
78.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,917Rp 104.2M
$3,947MX$66.9K
49.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Cozumel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.28Rp 814.8K
$59.6MX$1,010
-22.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.44Rp 641.6K
$57.7MX$979
-36.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.7Rp 1.4M
$110MX$1,874
-26.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8Rp 1.4M
$88.1MX$1,494
-10.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Cozumel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,114Rp 19.6M
$658MX$11.2K
69.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$693Rp 12.2M
$409MX$6,933
69.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,639Rp 64.1M
$1,679MX$28.5K
116.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,712Rp 30.1M
$830MX$14.1K
106.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,761Rp 48.6M
$1,962MX$33.3K
40.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,293Rp 40.4M
$1,229MX$20.9K
86.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Cozumel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167Rp 2.9M
$701MX$11.9K
-76.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
11.64
18.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026
Last update for Cozumel: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali and $658 in Cozumel. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cozumel pays 319% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $48.00 in Cozumel. Groceries flip the comparison at $294 vs $275, with Cozumel 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 Cozumel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Cozumel?
Ubud, Bali and Cozumel differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($1,378 vs $1,249 including rent). Cozumel is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 319% lower in Cozumel. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Cozumel?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $658 in Cozumel. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Cozumel – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,249 in Cozumel versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Cozumel but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Cozumel the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Cozumel?
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.
Is Ubud, Bali or Cozumel safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Cozumel are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Cozumel?
Expats usually find Cozumel gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared