Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Cuenca Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Cuenca

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $950 in Cuenca, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,422 in Cuenca, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,273 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,895 in Cuenca, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 47% more than Cuenca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 2% above the global median, while Cuenca is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.37 Rp 59.7K

$3.44 $3.44

-2.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.59 Rp 682.4K

$30.33 $30.33

27.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 Rp 97.6K

$7.89 $7.89

-30.04%

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 46.8K

$2.56 $2.56

3.13%

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

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

$0.69 $0.69

142.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$0.62 $0.62

24.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 Rp 46.6K

$2.03 $2.03

29.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

$3.08 $3.08

38.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

$1.05 $1.05

47.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

$1.54 $1.54

44.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 Rp 19.9K

$1.80 $1.80

-37.22%

Eggs

$2.09 Rp 36.9K

$2.20 $2.20

-5.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 Rp 307.6K

$5.37 $5.37

223.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 Rp 68.4K

$5.48 $5.48

-29.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.55 Rp 221.9K

$6.99 $6.99

79.54%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.9K

$1.91 $1.91

89.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.6K

$1.08 $1.08

44.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 Rp 41.6K

$1.65 $1.65

42.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

$1.19 $1.19

73.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 33.6K

$1.54 $1.54

23.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 Rp 41.3K

$1.02 $1.02

129.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

$0.62 $0.62

66.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,809

$1.08 $1.08

-49.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 39.8K

$5.22 $5.22

-56.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 421.0K

$10.04 $10.04

137.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 Rp 40.9K

$1.56 $1.56

48.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 Rp 49.5K

$3.32 $3.32

-15.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,816

$0.30 $0.30

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 153.2K

$23.32 $23.32

-62.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,515

$0.99 $0.99

-51.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,887

$1.07 $1.07

-57.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.72 Rp 101.1K

$11.16 $11.16

-48.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

$0.82 $0.82

-7.32%

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

$24.5K Rp 433.0M

$25.3K $25.3K

-3.24%

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

$32.1K Rp 568.0M

$29.9K $29.9K

7.55%

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

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

$36.60 $36.60

128.28%

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

$6.46 Rp 114.2K

$12.17 $12.17

-46.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.99 Rp 335.9K

$26.61 $26.61

-28.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 Rp 989.8K

$28.88 $28.88

93.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 329.2K

$5.15 $5.15

261.55%

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

$7.33 $7.33

-41.61%

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

$487 Rp 8.6M

$217 $217

124.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,856 Rp 103.6M

$6,919 $6,919

-15.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.56 Rp 805.6K

$68.4 $68.4

-33.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.38 Rp 643.3K

$46.11 $46.11

-21.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

$111 $111

-26.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$74.9 $74.9

7.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

$468 $468

138.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 Rp 12.4M

$362 $362

93.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,537 Rp 62.5M

$664 $664

432.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,762 Rp 31.2M

$566 $566

211.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 50.0M

$1,248 $1,248

126.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.5M

$851 $851

169.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 Rp 3.0M

$563 $563

-69.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

10.95

25.84%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for Cuenca: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $468 in Cuenca. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 231% higher in Cuenca, 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $30.00 in Cuenca. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $192 – making Cuenca 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 Cuenca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 47%, 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 $2,095 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,425 in Cuenca. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cuenca, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali and $30.00 in Cuenca. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,396 in Ubud, Bali and $950 in Cuenca. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cuenca, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Cuenca it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cuenca – 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 Cuenca. 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.