Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Des Plaines, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Des Plaines, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,558 in Des Plaines, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,846 in Des Plaines, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Ubud, Bali versus $5,133 in Des Plaines, IL.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 44% less than in Des Plaines, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 7% above, Des Plaines, IL 91% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
$14.74 $14.74
-75.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
$81.5 $81.5
-60.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
$11.21 $11.21
-54.77%
Cappuccino
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
$5.33 $5.33
-46.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
$2.67 $2.67
-49.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
$2.34 $2.34
-70.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
$5.96 $5.96
-49.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
$6.83 $6.83
-43.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
$0.94 $0.94
85.11%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
$4.10 $4.10
-38.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
$5.09 $5.09
-76.62%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
$4.12 $4.12
-41.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
$13.98 $13.98
4.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
$13.47 $13.47
-68.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
$16.40 $16.40
-27.20%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
$4.37 $4.37
-15.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
$1.61 $1.61
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
$4.26 $4.26
-36.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
$4.52 $4.52
-48.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
$2.48 $2.48
-22.98%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
$2.70 $2.70
-18.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
$1.95 $1.95
-45.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
$1.98 $1.98
-63.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
$14.28 $14.28
-78.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
$15.05 $15.05
56.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
$2.36 $2.36
16.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
$3.70 $3.70
-22.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,029
$1.95 $1.95
-85.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,863
$4.42 $4.42
-89.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,305
$1.43 $1.43
-70.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
$25.19 $25.19
-75.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
$1.10 $1.10
-23.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
$25.4K $25.4K
3.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
$25.0K $25.0K
29.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$186 $186
-57.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
$50.8 $50.8
-92.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
$65.8 $65.8
-62.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
$43.70 $43.70
120.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
$39.41 $39.41
-83.89%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
$15.06 $15.06
-73.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.2M
$1,621 $1,621
-81.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
$24.4K $24.4K
-73.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
$65.5 $65.5
-17.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
$49.03 $49.03
-22.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
$95.0 $95.0
-8.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$132 $132
-40.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
$1,598 $1,598
-36.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 11.7M
$1,358 $1,358
-50.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
$2,584 $2,584
31.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
$2,183 $2,183
-3.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
$3,208 $3,208
-6.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
$2,466 $2,466
-5.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 Rp 3.0M
$6,236 $6,236
-97.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6.6
101.21%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Des Plaines, IL: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali and $1,598 in Des Plaines, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Des Plaines, IL pays 3502% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $82.0 in Des Plaines, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $411 per month, with Ubud, 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 Des Plaines, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and Des Plaines, IL?
Ubud, Bali and Des Plaines, IL differ by about 78% in total monthly costs ($1,438 vs $2,558 including rent). Ubud, 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, Des Plaines, IL earns 3502% 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 Des Plaines, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,598 in Des Plaines, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and Des Plaines, IL?
Childcare runs $303 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,621 in Des Plaines, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $82.0 in Des Plaines, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,558 in Des Plaines, IL, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Des Plaines, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Des Plaines, IL?
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 Des Plaines, IL safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Des Plaines, IL 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 Des Plaines, IL?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Des Plaines, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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