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