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 $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $393 in Dharamsala, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $572 in Dharamsala, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $750 in Dharamsala, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 261% more than Dharamsala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Dharamsala is 71% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

$2.65 ₹253

34.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

$11.82 ₹1,132

176.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

$3.43 ₹328

44.31%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

$1.56 ₹150

73.72%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

$0.37 ₹35.35

262.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.14 ₹13.33

400.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

$1.67 ₹159

74.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

$2.81 ₹269

40.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

$0.73 ₹69.5

147.95%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

$0.54 ₹51.7

366.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

$0.87 ₹83.5

33.33%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$1.05 ₹101

134.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

$5.46 ₹522

169.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

$2.07 ₹198

108.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

$1.58 ₹152

143.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

$0.81 ₹77.9

92.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

$1.00 ₹96.0

183.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

$0.56 ₹53.8

316.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

$0.22 ₹21.03

768.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

$0.45 ₹43.04

388.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

$0.43 ₹41.14

134.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$0.32 ₹30.50

143.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

$4.13 ₹395

-19.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

$3.06 ₹293

675.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

$1.74 ₹166

60.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

$2.83 ₹271

1.06%

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

$5.05 ₹483

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,819

$0.30 ₹28.78

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

$8.61 ₹824

-6.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,181

$0.85 ₹81.2

-45.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,068

$0.22 ₹20.94

104.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

$1.18 ₹113

416.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.14 ₹109

-30.70%

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

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

$14.4K ₹1.4M

81.97%

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

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

$28.6K ₹2.7M

12.33%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$47.90 ₹4,583

66.89%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

$2.60 ₹249

56.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

$2.98 ₹285

689.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$14.64 ₹1,401

574.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

$7.20 ₹689

-7.92%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

$2.85 ₹273

45.61%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$61.5 ₹5,889

393.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

$1,942 ₹185.9K

240.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

$24.92 ₹2,385

122.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

$24.12 ₹2,308

58.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$48.38 ₹4,629

83.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$33.00 ₹3,158

135.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$91.9 ₹8,790

995.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$89.4 ₹8,559

655.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

$141 ₹13.5K

2335.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

$112 ₹10.7K

1718.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$207 ₹19.8K

-20.30%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Dharamsala: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 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 25% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $12.00 in Dharamsala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $94.0 – 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 261%, 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 $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $590 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 $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $393 in Dharamsala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 7% 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 $393, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. 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.