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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,932 in Dresden.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,021 in Dresden.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,275 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,109 in Dresden.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 29% less than in Dresden, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 0% above, Dresden 40% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Dresden
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 58.7K
$17.35 €14.95
-80.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.82 Rp 630.7K
$87.2 €75.1
-58.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.63 Rp 99.1K
$11.77 €10.15
-52.17%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 49.7K
$4.67 €4.03
-39.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
$3.99 €3.44
-56.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 Rp 14.0K
$3.24 €2.80
-75.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 Rp 53.6K
$6.20 €5.34
-50.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
$6.81 €5.87
-36.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Dresden
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 Rp 28.3K
$1.46 €1.26
10.27%
White Bread (500g)
$2.27 Rp 39.9K
$2.10 €1.81
8.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 20.6K
$3.21 €2.77
-63.55%
Eggs
$2.17 Rp 38.2K
$3.89 €3.35
-44.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.63 Rp 310.5K
$16.94 €14.60
4.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.05 Rp 71.4K
$11.48 €9.90
-64.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 214.5K
$22.82 €19.67
-46.63%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 Rp 63.7K
$3.34 €2.88
8.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 Rp 28.8K
$2.11 €1.82
-22.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 40.6K
$2.12 €1.83
8.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.96 Rp 34.5K
$4.12 €3.55
-52.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 Rp 32.5K
$1.47 €1.27
25.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.37 Rp 41.7K
$1.49 €1.28
59.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 18.5K
$1.51 €1.30
-30.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 Rp 9,560
$1.11 €0.96
-51.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30 Rp 40.6K
$10.28 €8.86
-77.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.08 Rp 406.4K
$5.87 €5.06
293.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
$1.11 €0.95
110.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 Rp 54.0K
$1.49 €1.29
106.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Dresden
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,365
$3.93 €3.39
-93.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.42 Rp 165.9K
$74.2 €63.9
-87.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.49 Rp 8,631
$4.60 €3.97
-89.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,349
$2.85 €2.45
-83.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 98.6K
$35.34 €30.47
-84.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
$2.16 €1.86
-62.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K Rp 440.3M
$34.4K €29.6K
-27.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K Rp 547.0M
$40.1K €34.6K
-22.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Dresden
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.7 Rp 1.5M
$384 €331
-78.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 114.2K
$20.55 €17.72
-68.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.79 Rp 330.8K
$45.03 €38.81
-58.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Dresden
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.2 Rp 972.6K
$36.07 €31.09
53.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.21 Rp 320.6K
$25.88 €22.31
-29.64%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
$14.14 €12.19
-69.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Dresden
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 Rp 8.7M
$942 €812
-47.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,917 Rp 104.2M
$16.0K €13.8K
-62.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Dresden
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.28 Rp 814.8K
$90.5 €78.0
-48.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.44 Rp 641.6K
$43.32 €37.35
-15.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
$111 €95.5
-27.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8 Rp 1.4M
$131 €113
-39.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Dresden
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,114 Rp 19.6M
$787 €678
41.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$693 Rp 12.2M
$520 €449
33.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,639 Rp 64.1M
$1,633 €1,407
122.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,712 Rp 30.1M
$1,013 €873
68.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,761 Rp 48.6M
$5,197 €4,480
-46.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,293 Rp 40.4M
$2,728 €2,351
-15.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Dresden
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 2.9M
$3,120 €2,690
-94.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
3.96
247.98%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Dresden: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali and $787 in Dresden. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dresden pays 1768% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $87.0 in Dresden for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $346 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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 Dresden: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Dresden?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 40% lower than in Dresden. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Dresden?
On paper, salaries run 1768% lower in Dresden. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Dresden?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $787 in Dresden. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Dresden?
All in, you'll spend $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,932 in Dresden – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali compared to Dresden?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 687% less than in Dresden. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Dresden?
At $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,932 in Dresden, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Dresden. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Dresden?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,378 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Dresden?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Dresden 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Dresden. 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