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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $396 in Dharamsala, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $579 in Dharamsala, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $763 in Dharamsala, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 256% more than Dharamsala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Dharamsala is 70% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.1K

$2.59 ₹249

33.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 581.1K

$11.48 ₹1,107

181.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 87.1K

$3.51 ₹338

37.89%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

$1.52 ₹146

80.92%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.9K

$0.36 ₹35.00

283.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.17 ₹16.52

341.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.8K

$1.65 ₹160

81.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.2K

$2.79 ₹269

37.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.2K

$0.73 ₹70.7

138.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.2K

$0.54 ₹52.3

355.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$0.89 ₹85.6

31.46%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.7K

$1.05 ₹101

131.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.6K

$5.57 ₹538

160.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.2K

$2.14 ₹206

103.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 215.3K

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

$1.60 ₹154

132.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$0.75 ₹71.9

117.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.3K

$0.95 ₹91.4

188.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

$0.57 ₹55.2

292.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.5K

$0.22 ₹21.10

772.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.9K

$0.49 ₹46.85

365.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.43 ₹40.99

146.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.35 ₹33.38

105.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 59.0K

$4.12 ₹397

-20.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.8K

$3.09 ₹298

650.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$1.67 ₹161

66.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.1K

$2.77 ₹267

-1.44%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$5.07 ₹489

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,786

$0.30 ₹29.01

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.7K

$8.47 ₹817

-4.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,675

$0.83 ₹80.2

-42.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,545

$0.22 ₹21.13

90.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.8K

$1.18 ₹113

427.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$1.15 ₹111

-29.57%

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

$26.6K Rp 478.2M

$14.6K ₹1.4M

82.32%

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

$32.2K Rp 578.5M

$29.4K ₹2.8M

9.63%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$47.17 ₹4,549

66.10%

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

$4.07 Rp 73.1K

$2.64 ₹255

54.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 437.1K

$2.84 ₹274

756.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$14.83 ₹1,430

564.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.9K

$6.85 ₹660

-7.45%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.6K

$2.86 ₹276

39.51%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

$60.5 ₹5,835

404.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.4M

$1,968 ₹189.8K

237.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 972.9K

$24.99 ₹2,410

116.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 679.4K

$24.39 ₹2,352

55.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$49.05 ₹4,730

77.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$33.54 ₹3,235

127.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$91.9 ₹8,857

979.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$90.9 ₹8,766

640.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.7M

$137 ₹13.2K

2359.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$113 ₹10.9K

1720.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 40.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$205 ₹19.8K

-18.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

7.5

77.07%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Dharamsala: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $91.9 in Dharamsala. 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 23% higher in Dharamsala, 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $11.00 in Dharamsala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $95.0 – making Dharamsala 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 Dharamsala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 256%, 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 $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $594 in Dharamsala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,408 in Ubud, Bali and $396 in Dharamsala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 4% less in Dharamsala. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dharamsala, where all-in costs run around $396, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Dharamsala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dharamsala – 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 Dharamsala. 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.