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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,203 in Drama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,824 in Drama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,445 in Drama.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 20% more expensive than Drama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 7% above, Drama is 10% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Drama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
$13.40 €11.47
-73.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
$46.13 €39.49
-29.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
$9.21 €7.89
-44.95%
Cappuccino
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
$2.75 €2.35
2.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
$1.62 €1.39
-17.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
$0.56 €0.48
23.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
$3.57 €3.05
-16.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
$4.50 €3.85
-14.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Drama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
$1.52 €1.30
14.47%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
$1.56 €1.33
62.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
$1.14 €0.97
4.39%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
$4.01 €3.44
-39.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
$12.19 €10.43
20.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
$9.67 €8.28
-56.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
$13.31 €11.40
-10.29%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
$1.48 €1.27
149.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
$1.44 €1.23
11.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
$1.07 €0.91
151.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
$2.03 €1.74
14.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
$1.01 €0.86
89.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
$1.22 €1.04
79.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
$1.04 €0.89
1.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
$0.49 €0.42
46.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
$5.23 €4.48
-40.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
$5.39 €4.62
335.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
$0.95 €0.81
188.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
$2.07 €1.78
39.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Drama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,029
$1.58 €1.35
-81.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
$46.82 €40.08
-82.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,863
$7.39 €6.32
-93.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,305
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
$13.42 €11.49
-54.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
$2.04 €1.75
-58.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
$35.1K €30.0K
-25.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
$29.3K €25.1K
10.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Drama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$176 €151
-55.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
$23.58 €20.18
-83.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
$31.73 €27.16
-23.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Drama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
$38.13 €32.64
153.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
$25.80 €22.08
-75.39%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
$8.28 €7.09
-51.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Drama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.2M
$507 €434
-40.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
$5,486 €4,696
18.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Drama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
$114 €97.3
-52.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
$23.24 €19.89
63.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
$63.1 €54.0
37.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$68.6 €58.7
14.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Drama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
$315 €269
221.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 11.7M
$302 €259
122.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
$524 €449
546.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
$424 €363
394.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
$1,556 €1,332
91.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
$3,464 €2,965
-32.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Drama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 Rp 3.0M
$1,221 €1,045
-85.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
4.34
205.99%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Drama: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali and $315 in Drama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Drama pays 605% 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 $46.00 in Drama. Groceries flip the comparison at $298 vs $242, with Drama cheaper for home cooking.

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 Drama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Drama cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Drama is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Drama?
On paper, Drama earns 605% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Drama?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $315 in Drama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Drama runs roughly 473% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $303 in Ubud, Bali versus $507 in Drama. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Drama?
At $1,203 in Drama versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Drama but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Drama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Drama more family-friendly?
For families, Drama is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Drama?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Drama are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Drama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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