Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Dong Hoi Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Dong Hoi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $698 in Dong Hoi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,043 in Dong Hoi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,387 in Dong Hoi.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 103% more expensive than Dong Hoi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Dong Hoi is 48% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Dong Hoi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 63.9K
$1.14 ₫30.0K
212.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 586.8K
$11.67 ₫306.9K
180.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.7K
$4.74 ₫124.5K
4.43%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.6K
$1.42 ₫37.2K
90.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.1K
$0.54 ₫14.2K
148.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$0.31 ₫8,264
125.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.3K
$0.76 ₫20.1K
284.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.9K
$1.18 ₫31.1K
235.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Dong Hoi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
$1.38 ₫36.4K
31.16%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.1K
$0.92 ₫24.2K
173.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.8K
$1.17 ₫30.8K
-0.85%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
$1.45 ₫38.2K
69.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 263.7K
$12.32 ₫323.8K
19.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.4K
$3.36 ₫88.3K
28.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 217.5K
$9.62 ₫253.0K
26.20%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.8K
$2.75 ₫72.3K
39.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.9K
$0.92 ₫24.1K
69.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.8K
$1.13 ₫29.6K
150.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.7K
$1.09 ₫28.7K
113.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
$1.10 ₫28.9K
73.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.5K
$1.20 ₫31.7K
83.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.2K
$1.00 ₫26.4K
1.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.9K
$0.52 ₫13.6K
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.4K
$1.37 ₫36.1K
142.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 425.5K
$7.51 ₫197.4K
216.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 50.0K
$0.80 ₫21.1K
248.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.3K
$1.65 ₫43.4K
73.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Dong Hoi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,819
$0.31 ₫8,250
-12.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.9K
$6.38 ₫167.7K
25.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,181
$0.88 ₫23.3K
-47.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,068
$0.69 ₫18.2K
-34.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 109.3K
$2.83 ₫74.3K
115.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$0.85 ₫22.4K
-7.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 468.8M
$26.7K ₫702.4M
-2.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 575.8M
$28.8K ₫757.1M
11.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Dong Hoi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$65.6 ₫1.7M
21.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.9K
$5.79 ₫152.1K
-29.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 421.6K
$8.46 ₫222.3K
178.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Dong Hoi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$20.97 ₫551.3K
370.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.8K
$7.44 ₫195.6K
-10.89%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.3K
$3.04 ₫79.9K
36.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Dong Hoi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$154 ₫4.0M
97.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.5M
$12.8K ₫337.7M
-48.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Dong Hoi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 995.6K
$39.70 ₫1.0M
39.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 686.7K
$25.65 ₫674.2K
49.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$52.5 ₫1.4M
68.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$77.3 ₫2.0M
0.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Dong Hoi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
$353 ₫9.3M
185.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
$249 ₫6.5M
171.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.7M
$678 ₫17.8M
407.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.6M
$474 ₫12.5M
329.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.9M
$4,224 ₫111.1M
-32.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.6M
$1,652 ₫43.4M
37.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Dong Hoi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$394 ₫10.4M
-58.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
7
89.71%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Dong Hoi: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $353 in Dong Hoi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dong Hoi pays 139% 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 $12.00 in Dong Hoi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $184 per month, with Dong Hoi 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 Dong Hoi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and Dong Hoi?
Ubud, Bali and Dong Hoi differ by about 103% in total monthly costs ($1,419 vs $698 including rent). Dong Hoi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Dong Hoi earns 139% 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 Dong Hoi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $353 in Dong Hoi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Dong Hoi?
All in, you'll spend $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $698 in Dong Hoi – a 103% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Ubud, Bali and Dong Hoi?
A monthly transit pass in Dong Hoi runs roughly 26% 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 $698 in Dong Hoi versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dong Hoi but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Dong Hoi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Dong Hoi?
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 Dong Hoi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Dong Hoi 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 Dong Hoi?
Expats usually find Dong Hoi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 103% 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

Similar cities