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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,395 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $894 in Duncans, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,559 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,423 in Duncans, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,724 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,952 in Duncans, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 56% more than Duncans, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Duncans is 34% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Duncans
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.48 Rp 59.7K
$7.38 JMD 1,168
-52.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.88 Rp 563.4K
$61.7 JMD 9,765
-46.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.09 Rp 87.2K
$8.53 JMD 1,350
-40.33%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 47.1K
$4.38 JMD 693
-37.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 23.7K
$1.36 JMD 215
1.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 Rp 12.2K
$0.74 JMD 118
-4.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.88 Rp 49.3K
$2.47 JMD 391
16.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87 Rp 66.3K
$3.11 JMD 492
24.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Duncans
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 Rp 30.7K
$4.28 JMD 677
-58.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 Rp 41.9K
$3.63 JMD 574
-32.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 Rp 20.7K
$1.54 JMD 244
-21.43%
Eggs
$2.39 Rp 40.9K
$3.46 JMD 548
-30.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.70 Rp 251.9K
$10.88 JMD 1,721
35.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.24 Rp 72.7K
$6.33 JMD 1,003
-33.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.08 Rp 206.9K
$7.76 JMD 1,228
55.67%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 62.8K
$6.04 JMD 956
-39.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.5K
$3.09 JMD 488
-47.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.72 Rp 46.6K
$4.18 JMD 662
-34.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 Rp 38.9K
$3.07 JMD 486
-26.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 32.6K
$2.10 JMD 333
-9.52%
Onion (1kg)
$2.30 Rp 39.4K
$2.02 JMD 320
13.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 17.4K
$3.11 JMD 492
-67.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.3K
$1.44 JMD 229
-45.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.24 Rp 55.6K
$9.00 JMD 1,424
-64.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.06 Rp 412.3K
$11.48 JMD 1,817
109.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 Rp 48.7K
$2.90 JMD 459
-2.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 47.8K
$3.04 JMD 481
-8.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Duncans
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,606
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.24 Rp 141.2K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,700
$1.07 JMD 170
-57.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,298
$3.23 JMD 511
-86.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.02 Rp 103.2K
$6.28 JMD 993
-4.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 14.7K
$1.23 JMD 195
-30.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 446.6M
$43.1K JMD 6.8M
-39.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 543.2M
$34.2K JMD 5.4M
-7.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Duncans
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.3 Rp 1.3M
$163 JMD 25.8K
-51.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.00 Rp 68.5K
$22.03 JMD 3,487
-81.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.35 Rp 417.3K
$50.7 JMD 8,016
-51.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Duncans
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$95.8 Rp 1.6M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.46 Rp 110.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rp 68.7K
$13.02 JMD 2,061
-69.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Duncans
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$302 Rp 5.2M
$229 JMD 36.3K
31.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,545 Rp 112.2M
$2,435 JMD 385.3K
168.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Duncans
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 Rp 915.5K
$26.13 JMD 4,135
104.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.55 Rp 660.6K
$25.25 JMD 3,996
52.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.1 Rp 1.5M
$71.0 JMD 11.2K
25.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$76.2 JMD 12.1K
3.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Duncans
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,016 Rp 17.4M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$672 Rp 11.5M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,368 Rp 57.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,108 Rp 36.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,001 Rp 51.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,337 Rp 40.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Duncans
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$178 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
9.15
45.14%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 12, 2026

Last update for Duncans: April 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,016 in Ubud, Bali versus $0 in Duncans. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33 in Ubud, Bali versus $62 in Duncans. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $351 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Duncans: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Duncans cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 56%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,092 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,341 in Duncans. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali vs Duncans?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,395 in Ubud, Bali and $894 in Duncans. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $302 per month in Ubud, Bali and $229 in Duncans. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Duncans?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Duncans, where all-in costs run around $894, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,395. In Duncans it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Duncans more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Duncans – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Duncans?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Duncans. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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