😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $961 in Denpasar, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,660 in Denpasar, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,360 in Denpasar, Bali.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 48% more expensive than Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Denpasar, Bali is 28% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56Rp 64.3K
$2.41Rp 43.4K
47.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73Rp 590.3K
$21.74Rp 392.1K
50.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.95Rp 89.2K
$3.26Rp 58.8K
51.84%
Cappuccino
$2.71Rp 48.9K
$1.89Rp 34.1K
43.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 24.2K
$0.92Rp 16.7K
45.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.6K
$0.47Rp 8,450
48.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92Rp 52.7K
$1.92Rp 34.7K
52.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96Rp 71.4K
$2.56Rp 46.2K
54.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81Rp 32.6K
$1.44Rp 26.0K
25.69%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52Rp 45.4K
$2.04Rp 36.9K
23.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16Rp 20.9K
$0.92Rp 16.7K
26.09%
Eggs
$2.46Rp 44.4K
$1.91Rp 34.5K
28.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.71Rp 265.3K
$11.89Rp 214.5K
23.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.32Rp 77.9K
$3.41Rp 61.6K
26.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.14Rp 218.9K
$9.95Rp 179.4K
22.01%
Apples(1kg)
$3.84Rp 69.3K
$3.09Rp 55.8K
24.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56Rp 28.1K
$1.26Rp 22.8K
23.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83Rp 51.1K
$2.22Rp 40.0K
27.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.9K
$1.81Rp 32.7K
28.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 34.5K
$1.61Rp 29.1K
18.63%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20Rp 39.7K
$1.80Rp 32.4K
22.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01Rp 18.3K
$0.86Rp 15.5K
17.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78Rp 14.0K
$0.57Rp 10.3K
36.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32Rp 59.8K
$2.64Rp 47.6K
25.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.74Rp 428.0K
$19.27Rp 347.6K
23.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79Rp 50.3K
$2.25Rp 40.6K
24.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86Rp 51.6K
$2.23Rp 40.2K
28.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,848
$0.24Rp 4,299
12.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.03Rp 144.8K
$7.34Rp 132.3K
9.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.46Rp 8,230
$0.44Rp 7,890
4.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 8,116
$0.39Rp 6,983
15.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.10Rp 109.9K
$5.45Rp 98.2K
11.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 14.3K
$0.74Rp 13.3K
6.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1KRp 471.6M
$23.5KRp 424.7M
11.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KRp 579.2M
$29.1KRp 525.2M
10.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.9Rp 1.4M
$70.5Rp 1.3M
13.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06Rp 73.3K
$3.67Rp 66.2K
10.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52Rp 424.1K
$21.23Rp 382.8K
10.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.7Rp 1.8M
$69.5Rp 1.3M
42.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63Rp 119.6K
$4.45Rp 80.3K
48.99%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15Rp 74.8K
$2.91Rp 52.5K
42.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304Rp 5.5M
$227Rp 4.1M
34.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,613Rp 119.3M
$5,191Rp 93.6M
27.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5Rp 1.0M
$47.61Rp 858.6K
16.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31Rp 690.9K
$32.45Rp 585.2K
18.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.6Rp 1.6M
$76.3Rp 1.4M
16.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9Rp 1.4M
$66.7Rp 1.2M
16.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,006Rp 18.1M
$528Rp 9.5M
90.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$675Rp 12.2M
$344Rp 6.2M
96.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,442Rp 62.1M
$1,801Rp 32.5M
91.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039Rp 36.8M
$1,065Rp 19.2M
91.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,841Rp 51.2M
$1,476Rp 26.6M
92.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,264Rp 40.8M
$1,184Rp 21.4M
91.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$165Rp 3.0M
$335Rp 6.0M
-50.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
13.28
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Last update for Denpasar, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $528 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Denpasar, Bali pays 103% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $22.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $243 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 Denpasar, Bali?
Ubud, Bali and Denpasar, Bali differ by about 48% in total monthly costs ($1,419 vs $961 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, Denpasar, Bali earns 103% less. 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 Denpasar, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $528 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 $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $961 in Denpasar, Bali – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Ubud, Bali and Denpasar, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Denpasar, Bali runs roughly 9% 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 $961 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,419 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 48% 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