😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,176 in Cozumel.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,790 in Cozumel.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,403 in Cozumel.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 20% more expensive than in Cozumel, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Cozumel is 12% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Cozumel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45Rp 62.0K
$8.56MX$150
-59.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34Rp 580.1K
$42.08MX$738
-23.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.84Rp 86.9K
$7.73MX$136
-37.39%
Cappuccino
$2.75Rp 49.3K
$3.01MX$52.9
-8.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38Rp 24.8K
$1.16MX$20.26
18.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75Rp 13.5K
$1.11MX$19.40
-32.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 53.7K
$1.89MX$33.17
58.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 69.1K
$3.59MX$63.0
7.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Cozumel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 31.1K
$1.37MX$23.95
27.01%
White Bread(500g)
$2.46Rp 44.1K
$1.62MX$28.34
51.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17Rp 21.0K
$1.55MX$27.21
-24.52%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 43.6K
$1.98MX$34.68
22.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.50Rp 260.2K
$10.47MX$184
38.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.35Rp 78.0K
$7.09MX$124
-38.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.98Rp 214.9K
$11.33MX$199
5.74%
Apples(1kg)
$3.72Rp 66.7K
$2.43MX$42.60
53.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.2K
$1.40MX$24.60
16.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.74Rp 49.2K
$2.07MX$36.23
32.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24Rp 40.2K
$1.44MX$25.33
55.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92Rp 34.4K
$2.06MX$36.12
-6.80%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28Rp 40.8K
$1.88MX$33.01
21.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.1K
$1.03MX$18.07
2.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.9K
$0.93MX$16.27
-22.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29Rp 58.9K
$4.08MX$71.6
-19.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.19Rp 416.1K
$11.35MX$199
104.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 49.8K
$1.38MX$24.20
101.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73Rp 49.0K
$2.78MX$48.77
-1.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Cozumel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,778
$0.60MX$10.58
-55.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.11Rp 145.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,659
$2.40MX$42.02
-80.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,532
$2.37MX$41.53
-82.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.22Rp 111.6K
$6.56MX$115
-5.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.6K
$1.30MX$22.85
-37.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KRp 477.4M
$15.9KMX$279.2K
67.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2KRp 577.4M
$21.8KMX$382.8K
47.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Cozumel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$50.6MX$888
54.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07Rp 73.0K
$21.83MX$383
-81.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33Rp 436.4K
$21.93MX$385
10.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Cozumel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.6Rp 1.8M
$37.51MX$658
162.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34Rp 113.7K
$15.99MX$281
-60.35%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99Rp 71.5K
$4.54MX$79.7
-12.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Cozumel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305Rp 5.5M
$210MX$3,688
45.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,642Rp 119.2M
$3,433MX$60.2K
93.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Cozumel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1Rp 971.2K
$57.0MX$1,000
-5.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81Rp 678.2K
$48.02MX$842
-21.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.6M
$89.4MX$1,568
-2.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4Rp 1.4M
$83.6MX$1,467
-8.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Cozumel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$992Rp 17.8M
$708MX$12.4K
40.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$673Rp 12.1M
$496MX$8,696
35.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,375Rp 60.5M
$1,549MX$27.2K
117.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,050Rp 36.8M
$765MX$13.4K
168.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,805Rp 50.3M
$1,860MX$32.6K
50.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,227Rp 39.9M
$1,251MX$21.9K
77.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Cozumel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167Rp 3.0M
$696MX$12.2K
-76.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
11.68
13.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Last update for Cozumel: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $708 in Cozumel. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cozumel pays 317% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $42.00 in Cozumel. Groceries flip the comparison at $297 vs $241, 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 20% in total monthly costs ($1,408 vs $1,176 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 317% 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: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $708 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 23% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Cozumel?
All in, you'll spend $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,176 in Cozumel – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,176 in Cozumel versus $1,408 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 20% 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