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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,394 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $688 in Dipolog, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,551 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,075 in Dipolog, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,708 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,462 in Dipolog, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 102% more than Dipolog, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Dipolog is 48% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 Rp 60.2K

$1.25 ₱75.4

172.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.38 Rp 573.6K

$20.85 ₱1,256

55.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.00 Rp 88.6K

$3.65 ₱220

36.99%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 50.0K

$1.99 ₱120

41.71%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.4K

$0.57 ₱34.22

142.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.0K

$0.30 ₱18.02

143.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 Rp 52.8K

$0.94 ₱56.9

217.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 Rp 70.3K

$1.81 ₱109

119.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 Rp 31.8K

$1.81 ₱109

-1.10%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 43.7K

$1.25 ₱75.4

96.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.2K

$0.95 ₱57.5

26.32%

Eggs

$2.39 Rp 42.3K

$2.25 ₱135

6.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 Rp 255.1K

$5.86 ₱353

145.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.28 Rp 75.9K

$4.15 ₱250

3.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 Rp 209.4K

$6.74 ₱406

75.37%

Apples (1kg)

$3.78 Rp 67.0K

$3.76 ₱226

0.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 28.9K

$1.20 ₱72.3

35.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 Rp 49.6K

$3.38 ₱203

-17.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 Rp 40.0K

$1.56 ₱94.1

44.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 Rp 35.3K

$2.60 ₱156

-23.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 Rp 39.2K

$3.00 ₱181

-26.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 Rp 18.9K

$1.68 ₱101

-36.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 Rp 13.5K

$0.87 ₱52.5

-12.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 55.4K

$3.22 ₱194

-2.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 421.9K

$4.05 ₱244

487.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 Rp 50.3K

$1.34 ₱80.8

111.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.2K

$1.46 ₱87.9

90.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,726

$0.28 ₱16.89

-3.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 148.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,034

$0.72 ₱43.44

-37.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,578

$0.23 ₱13.82

86.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 Rp 105.9K

$2.59 ₱156

130.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

$1.08 ₱65.3

-25.93%

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

$25.8K Rp 457.2M

$23.6K ₱1.4M

9.50%

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

$31.8K Rp 563.4M

$19.3K ₱1.2M

65.09%

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

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$65.4 ₱3,938

23.47%

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

$4.14 Rp 73.3K

$31.64 ₱1,905

-86.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.12 Rp 427.2K

$30.48 ₱1,836

-20.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.8 Rp 1.7M

$33.81 ₱2,036

189.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.64 Rp 117.7K

$4.41 ₱265

50.57%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 71.5K

$4.30 ₱259

-6.05%

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

$297 Rp 5.3M

$35.47 ₱2,136

737.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,590 Rp 116.7M

$4,332 ₱260.9K

52.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 Rp 976.8K

$46.11 ₱2,777

19.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.51 Rp 682.1K

$23.43 ₱1,411

64.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$63.0 ₱3,793

36.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.0 Rp 1.4M

$26.74 ₱1,610

191.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 Rp 17.5M

$262 ₱15.8K

275.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$665 Rp 11.8M

$177 ₱10.7K

275.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,446 Rp 61.0M

$593 ₱35.7K

481.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,042 Rp 36.2M

$391 ₱23.5K

422.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,829 Rp 50.1M

$2,254 ₱135.7K

25.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,282 Rp 40.4M

$999 ₱60.1K

128.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 Rp 3.0M

$249 ₱15.0K

-32.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

66.00%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026

Last update for Dipolog: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Ubud, Bali versus $262 in Dipolog. 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 47% higher in Dipolog, 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 $21.00 in Dipolog. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $299 vs $198 – making Dipolog 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 Dipolog: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 102% more than Dipolog, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,091 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,033 in Dipolog. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dipolog, 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 $1,394 in Ubud, Bali and $688 in Dipolog. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $297 per month in Ubud, Bali and $35.47 in Dipolog. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dipolog, where all-in costs run around $688, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,394. In Dipolog it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dipolog costs $688 versus $1,394 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Dipolog. 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.