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 $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,730 in Cuenca, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,505 in Cuenca, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,279 in Cuenca, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 21% cheaper than Cuenca, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Cuenca sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 0%, Cuenca by 26%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Cuenca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 Rp 61.0K
$17.40 €15.16
-80.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.31 Rp 644.5K
$47.36 €41.26
-23.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.71 Rp 101.3K
$9.46 €8.24
-39.64%
Cappuccino
$2.67 Rp 47.4K
$2.12 €1.84
25.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 31.1K
$2.42 €2.11
-27.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 Rp 15.5K
$1.61 €1.41
-45.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 Rp 52.4K
$2.39 €2.08
23.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 Rp 80.2K
$3.55 €3.09
27.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Cuenca
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
$1.06 €0.93
52.83%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 Rp 41.4K
$2.10 €1.83
10.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 19.7K
$1.55 €1.35
-28.39%
Eggs
$2.20 Rp 39.1K
$2.49 €2.17
-11.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.69 Rp 314.0K
$16.75 €14.59
5.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.10 Rp 72.7K
$9.51 €8.29
-56.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 216.1K
$21.53 €18.76
-43.43%
Apples (1kg)
$3.71 Rp 65.8K
$2.82 €2.46
31.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.2K
$2.49 €2.17
-36.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.5K
$2.56 €2.23
-10.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.95 Rp 34.7K
$3.13 €2.72
-37.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.8K
$2.00 €1.74
-4.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.4K
$2.35 €2.05
-0.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 17.9K
$1.93 €1.68
-47.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,795
$0.68 €0.60
-19.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 Rp 39.6K
$6.40 €5.58
-65.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.07 Rp 409.5K
$4.58 €3.99
403.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 Rp 42.9K
$1.02 €0.89
137.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 53.2K
$2.28 €1.99
31.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Cuenca
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,825
$1.68 €1.46
-83.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.98 Rp 159.4K
$33.83 €29.48
-73.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,586
$2.46 €2.14
-80.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,697
$1.11 €0.97
-61.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.64 Rp 100.1K
$30.47 €26.55
-81.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
$1.78 €1.55
-55.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K Rp 442.7M
$36.0K €31.3K
-30.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 562.8M
$30.6K €26.7K
3.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Cuenca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
$167 €145
-51.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 115.2K
$11.64 €10.14
-44.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.77 Rp 333.1K
$22.23 €19.37
-15.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Cuenca
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
$40.69 €35.45
39.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73 Rp 332.4K
$17.09 €14.89
9.60%
Cinema Ticket
$4.54 Rp 80.5K
$9.25 €8.06
-50.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Cuenca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$481 Rp 8.5M
$352 €307
36.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,711 Rp 101.4M
$8,204 €7,147
-30.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Cuenca
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.52 Rp 807.9K
$93.6 €81.5
-51.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.88 Rp 636.9K
$40.55 €35.33
-11.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$101 €88.3
-20.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
$118 €103
-33.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Cuenca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,115 Rp 19.8M
$920 €801
21.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$698 Rp 12.4M
$703 €612
-0.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,637 Rp 64.5M
$1,415 €1,233
157.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
$1,043 €908
66.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 49.4M
$3,446 €3,002
-19.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,290 Rp 40.6M
$2,325 €2,025
-1.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Cuenca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$168 Rp 3.0M
$1,450 €1,263
-88.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
3.46
298.27%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Cuenca: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $920 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 763% higher in Cuenca, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $47.00 in Cuenca. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $311 – making Ubud, Bali 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
How do living costs in Ubud, Bali and in Cuenca compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, $1,730 in Cuenca – roughly 26% apart. Cuenca costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Cuenca?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $2,595 in Cuenca. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ubud, Bali and Cuenca?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and Cuenca?
Kindergarten costs $481 per month in Ubud, Bali and $352 in Cuenca. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 5% more in Cuenca, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,368, than in Cuenca at $1,730. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cuenca it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Cuenca?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,368 in Ubud, Bali to $1,730 in Cuenca. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Ubud, Bali or Cuenca safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Ubud, Bali and Cuenca?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cuenca makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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