Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Dumaguete

For one person, living is cheaper in Dumaguete: $790 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Dumaguete, Philippines
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Dumaguete
🇵🇭 Philippines
$790
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Dumaguete

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Dumaguete actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,349 in Ubud, Bali versus $790 in Dumaguete.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,349
  • Dumaguete $790

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,305 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,195 in Dumaguete.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,305
  • Dumaguete $1,195

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,261 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,600 in Dumaguete.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,261
  • Dumaguete $1,600

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 71% more expensive than in Dumaguete, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Dumaguete
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 60.3K
$3.82 ₱242
-13.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.64 Rp 646.7K
$15.47 ₱982
130.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 Rp 100.4K
$4.23 ₱268
30.73%
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.3K
$2.22 ₱141
22.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
$0.72 ₱45.42
136.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
$0.43 ₱27.00
76.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 48.2K
$1.37 ₱86.9
93.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 Rp 79.5K
$1.83 ₱116
139.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Dumaguete
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 27.1K
$1.66 ₱105
-10.24%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 Rp 41.3K
$1.31 ₱83.3
74.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$0.92 ₱58.6
29.35%
Eggs
$2.04 Rp 36.9K
$1.79 ₱113
13.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.70 Rp 321.2K
$8.57 ₱544
106.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 71.9K
$4.40 ₱279
-10.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 Rp 221.2K
$6.86 ₱436
77.70%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 66.3K
$1.54 ₱97.6
137.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.5K
$1.27 ₱80.8
19.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
$3.44 ₱218
-35.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
$1.28 ₱81.0
53.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.5K
$2.52 ₱160
-26.59%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 44.0K
$1.58 ₱100
53.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
$0.81 ₱51.7
22.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,316
$0.57 ₱36.14
-10.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 40.3K
$2.32 ₱148
-4.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 403.6K
$8.45 ₱537
163.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 41.0K
$1.14 ₱72.3
98.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
$1.27 ₱80.7
133.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Dumaguete
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,555
$0.30 ₱18.99
-16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.82 Rp 142.0K
$11.33 ₱720
-30.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,975
$0.69 ₱43.72
-36.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,804
$0.15 ₱9.38
186.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 Rp 98.2K
$2.13 ₱135
153.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
$1.09 ₱69.3
-24.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 432.6M
$20.2K ₱1.3M
17.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 576.1M
$19.0K ₱1.2M
66.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Dumaguete
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$66.5 ₱4,220
18.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 117.0K
$9.65 ₱613
-33.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.58 Rp 337.1K
$26.12 ₱1,659
-28.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Dumaguete
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 Rp 897.9K
$31.13 ₱1,977
58.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 Rp 320.2K
$3.83 ₱243
360.84%
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 Rp 77.6K
$7.19 ₱457
-40.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Dumaguete
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.9M
$56.4 ₱3,585
769.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,674 Rp 103.0M
$1,650 ₱104.8K
243.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Dumaguete
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64 Rp 810.0K
$93.0 ₱5,908
-52.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 Rp 634.2K
$31.24 ₱1,984
11.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$100 ₱6,372
-20.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$111 ₱7,020
-28.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Dumaguete
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
$233 ₱14.8K
382.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 12.2M
$202 ₱12.9K
231.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,565 Rp 64.7M
$416 ₱26.4K
756.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
$344 ₱21.9K
400.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,732 Rp 49.6M
$3,045 ₱193.4K
-10.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 Rp 41.4M
$674 ₱42.8K
238.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Dumaguete
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$278 ₱17.6K
-41.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
7
96.86%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Last update for Dumaguete: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$672
Dumaguete
$202 69.9% $469
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$288
Dumaguete
$190 34.1% $98
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Dumaguete
$85 21.2% $23
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Dumaguete
$151 40.3% $43
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$104
Dumaguete
$102 1.8% $1.9
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$58
Dumaguete
$46 21.6% $13
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Dumaguete
$14 22.2% $2.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,125 in Ubud, Bali and $233 in Dumaguete. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dumaguete pays 70% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36 in Ubud, Bali vs $15 in Dumaguete for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $190 per month, with Dumaguete cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇵🇭 Dumaguete
🕒 Local time
03:09 3:09 AM
03:09 3:09 AM
Same time as Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
134,103
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18,145 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,249 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 63.51 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 70.87 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Dumaguete 2,170 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Dumaguete

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Dumaguete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Dumaguete?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,349 in Ubud, Bali and $790 in Dumaguete, so Dumaguete is about 41% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 41% lower in Ubud, Bali. 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 in Dumaguete?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,125 in Ubud, Bali versus $233 in Dumaguete. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Dumaguete?
All in, you’ll spend $1,349 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $790 in Dumaguete – Dumaguete is about 41% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How do commuting costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Dumaguete?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 31% less than in Dumaguete. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $790 in Dumaguete versus $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Dumaguete but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Dumaguete the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Dumaguete?
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 Dumaguete safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Dumaguete are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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