😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $937 in Denpasar, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,548 in Denpasar, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,275 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,159 in Denpasar, Bali.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 47% more expensive than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Denpasar, Bali is 32% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33Rp 58.7K
$2.32Rp 40.9K
43.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.82Rp 630.7K
$24.34Rp 428.6K
47.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.63Rp 99.1K
$3.78Rp 66.5K
48.94%
Cappuccino
$2.82Rp 49.7K
$1.83Rp 32.3K
54.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75Rp 30.8K
$1.16Rp 20.4K
50.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80Rp 14.0K
$0.51Rp 8,928
56.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.04Rp 53.6K
$2.03Rp 35.8K
49.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30Rp 75.7K
$2.98Rp 52.5K
44.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61Rp 28.3K
$1.25Rp 22.0K
28.80%
White Bread(500g)
$2.27Rp 39.9K
$1.87Rp 32.8K
21.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17Rp 20.6K
$0.90Rp 15.8K
30.00%
Eggs
$2.17Rp 38.2K
$1.69Rp 29.7K
28.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.63Rp 310.5K
$14.72Rp 259.1K
19.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.05Rp 71.4K
$3.29Rp 58.0K
23.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.18Rp 214.5K
$9.82Rp 172.9K
24.03%
Apples(1kg)
$3.62Rp 63.7K
$2.99Rp 52.6K
21.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64Rp 28.8K
$1.25Rp 22.1K
31.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31Rp 40.6K
$1.86Rp 32.7K
24.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96Rp 34.5K
$1.65Rp 29.0K
18.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84Rp 32.5K
$1.54Rp 27.1K
19.48%
Onion(1kg)
$2.37Rp 41.7K
$1.98Rp 34.9K
19.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05Rp 18.5K
$0.84Rp 14.8K
25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54Rp 9,560
$0.41Rp 7,269
31.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30Rp 40.6K
$1.81Rp 31.9K
27.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.08Rp 406.4K
$18.84Rp 331.7K
22.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34Rp 41.2K
$1.97Rp 34.6K
18.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07Rp 54.0K
$2.38Rp 41.9K
28.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25Rp 4,365
$0.22Rp 3,860
13.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.42Rp 165.9K
$7.67Rp 135.0K
22.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.49Rp 8,631
$0.43Rp 7,626
13.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.47Rp 8,349
$0.43Rp 7,526
9.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.60Rp 98.6K
$3.04Rp 53.5K
84.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.2K
$0.68Rp 11.9K
19.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KRp 440.3M
$21.8KRp 384.4M
14.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1KRp 547.0M
$28.5KRp 502.6M
8.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.7Rp 1.5M
$75.7Rp 1.3M
9.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49Rp 114.2K
$5.84Rp 102.9K
11.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.79Rp 330.8K
$17.30Rp 304.5K
8.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.2Rp 972.6K
$39.41Rp 693.9K
40.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.21Rp 320.6K
$12.91Rp 227.4K
41.05%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30Rp 75.7K
$3.09Rp 54.4K
39.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$494Rp 8.7M
$383Rp 6.7M
29.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,917Rp 104.2M
$4,468Rp 78.7M
32.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.28Rp 814.8K
$39.69Rp 698.7K
16.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.44Rp 641.6K
$31.07Rp 547.0K
17.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.7Rp 1.4M
$69.4Rp 1.2M
16.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8Rp 1.4M
$68.1Rp 1.2M
15.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,114Rp 19.6M
$591Rp 10.4M
88.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$693Rp 12.2M
$361Rp 6.4M
92.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,639Rp 64.1M
$1,858Rp 32.7M
95.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,712Rp 30.1M
$906Rp 15.9M
89.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,761Rp 48.6M
$1,463Rp 25.8M
88.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,293Rp 40.4M
$1,200Rp 21.1M
91.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167Rp 2.9M
$279Rp 4.9M
-40.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
13.78
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026
Last update for Denpasar, Bali: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali and $591 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Denpasar, Bali pays 67% 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 $24.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $239 per month, with Denpasar, Bali cheaper across the board.
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 Denpasar, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Denpasar, Bali?
Ubud, Bali and Denpasar, Bali differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($1,378 vs $937 including rent). Denpasar, Bali 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 67% lower in Denpasar, Bali. 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 Denpasar, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $591 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Denpasar, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $937 in Denpasar, Bali – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Denpasar, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Denpasar, Bali runs roughly 23% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $937 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Denpasar, Bali but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Denpasar, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Denpasar, Bali?
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 Denpasar, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Denpasar, Bali 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 Denpasar, Bali?
Expats usually find Denpasar, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% 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