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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $890 in David, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $957 in David, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,273 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,024 in David, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 57% more than David, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 2% above the global median, while David is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.37 Rp 59.7K

$5.37 PAB 5.37

-37.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.59 Rp 682.4K

$37.77 PAB 37.77

2.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 Rp 97.6K

$7.09 PAB 7.09

-22.14%

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 46.8K

$3.19 PAB 3.19

-17.24%

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

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

$1.47 PAB 1.47

13.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$1.54 PAB 1.54

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 Rp 46.6K

$1.98 PAB 1.98

32.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

$2.69 PAB 2.69

59.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

$1.72 PAB 1.72

-9.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

$2.13 PAB 2.13

4.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 Rp 19.9K

$2.46 PAB 2.46

-54.07%

Eggs

$2.09 Rp 36.9K

$2.36 PAB 2.36

-11.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 Rp 307.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 Rp 68.4K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.55 Rp 221.9K

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.9K

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.6K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 Rp 41.6K

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 33.6K

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 Rp 41.3K

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

$2.01 PAB 2.01

-48.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,809

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 39.8K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 421.0K

$9.95 PAB 9.95

139.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 Rp 40.9K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 Rp 49.5K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,816

$0.72 PAB 0.72

-62.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 153.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,515

$3.05 PAB 3.05

-84.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,887

$2.04 PAB 2.04

-77.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.72 Rp 101.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

$0.96 PAB 0.96

-20.83%

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

$24.5K Rp 433.0M

$24.8K PAB 24.8K

-1.33%

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

$32.1K Rp 568.0M

$29.9K PAB 29.9K

7.59%

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

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

$184 PAB 184

-54.59%

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

$6.46 Rp 114.2K

$28.78 PAB 28.78

-77.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.99 Rp 335.9K

$48.89 PAB 48.89

-61.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 Rp 989.8K

$30.62 PAB 30.62

82.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 329.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

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

$487 Rp 8.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,856 Rp 103.6M

$5,947 PAB 5,947

-1.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.56 Rp 805.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.38 Rp 643.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

$356 PAB 356

213.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 Rp 12.4M

$354 PAB 354

98.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,537 Rp 62.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,762 Rp 31.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 50.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 Rp 3.0M

$606 PAB 606

-71.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

96.86%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for David: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $356 in David. 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 257% higher in David, 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 $38.00 in David. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $86.0 – making David 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 David: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 57%, 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 $1,335 in David. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 241% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali and $38.00 in David. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in David, where all-in costs run around $890, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In David it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward David – 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 David. 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.