Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Durham

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,348 a month against $2,073 in Durham, rent and utilities included – about $8,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,348
/mo nomad
Durham
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,073
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Durham actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,073 in Durham.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,348
  • Durham $2,073

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,312 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,286 in Durham.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,312
  • Durham $3,286

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,276 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,498 in Durham.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,276
  • Durham $4,498

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 35% less than in Durham, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 1% above, Durham 55% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Durham
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 59.6K
$19.57 £14.79
-82.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.42 Rp 633.1K
$93.4 £70.6
-62.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.76 Rp 102.9K
$11.40 £8.61
-49.47%
Cappuccino
$2.63 Rp 47.0K
$4.56 £3.44
-42.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 Rp 31.0K
$2.54 £1.92
-31.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 Rp 13.8K
$2.04 £1.54
-62.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
$6.08 £4.59
-55.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 Rp 80.8K
$5.33 £4.03
-15.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Durham
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 Rp 27.4K
$1.95 £1.47
-21.54%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 Rp 39.2K
$1.54 £1.17
42.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 Rp 21.8K
$3.03 £2.29
-59.74%
Eggs
$2.14 Rp 38.2K
$4.37 £3.30
-51.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.73 Rp 316.9K
$10.02 £7.57
76.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.86 Rp 68.9K
$8.86 £6.69
-56.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.03 Rp 215.0K
$21.35 £16.13
-43.65%
Apples (1kg)
$3.61 Rp 64.5K
$2.93 £2.21
23.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 Rp 27.1K
$2.53 £1.91
-40.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.32 Rp 41.4K
$2.75 £2.08
-15.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.00 Rp 35.8K
$5.08 £3.84
-60.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
$1.56 £1.18
16.03%
Onion (1kg)
$2.39 Rp 42.7K
$1.70 £1.29
40.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.8K
$1.06 £0.80
-6.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,373
$1.88 £1.42
-72.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18 Rp 39.0K
$23.61 £17.84
-90.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.98 Rp 410.7K
$10.64 £8.04
115.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 Rp 42.8K
$3.31 £2.50
-27.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 53.6K
$3.15 £2.38
-4.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Durham
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 Rp 4,255
$3.23 £2.44
-92.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.99 Rp 125.0K
$86.9 £65.7
-91.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,876
$6.39 £4.83
-93.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,582
$1.93 £1.46
-78.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 Rp 97.4K
$23.68 £17.89
-76.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 15.1K
$1.88 £1.42
-55.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K Rp 434.8M
$37.8K £28.6K
-35.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K Rp 570.0M
$41.1K £31.1K
-22.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Durham
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
$265 £200
-69.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.58 Rp 117.6K
$15.21 £11.49
-56.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.24 Rp 326.1K
$42.95 £32.45
-57.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Durham
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.1 Rp 985.4K
$46.78 £35.35
17.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.51 Rp 330.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.24 Rp 75.9K
$12.51 £9.45
-66.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Durham
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$486 Rp 8.7M
$1,300 £982
-62.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,676 Rp 101.5M
$25.2K £19.1K
-77.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Durham
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.18 Rp 807.6K
$106 £80.3
-57.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.57 Rp 617.9K
$71.4 £53.9
-51.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.2 Rp 1.4M
$114 £86.1
-30.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.6 Rp 1.4M
$97.2 £73.5
-20.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Durham
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,127 Rp 20.1M
$1,539 £1,163
-26.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 12.1M
$743 £562
-9.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,618 Rp 64.7M
$2,661 £2,011
35.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,735 Rp 31.0M
$1,565 £1,183
10.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,829 Rp 50.6M
$5,034 £3,804
-43.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,307 Rp 41.2M
$3,862 £2,919
-40.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Durham
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$2,064 £1,559
-91.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
5.18
166.02%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 5, 2026

Last update for Durham: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$674
Durham
$743 10.3% $69
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$290
Durham
$348 20% $58
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Durham
$305 182% $197
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$106
Durham
$175 64.4% $69
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$106
Durham
$323 205% $217
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$64
Durham
$72 12.8% $8.2
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Durham
$116 1004% $105

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,127 in Ubud, Bali and $1,539 in Durham. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Durham pays 1146% 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: $35.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $93.0 in Durham for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $290 vs $348 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇬🇧 Durham
🕒 Local time
15:21 3:21 PM
08:21 8:21 AM
7 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
42,100
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GBP, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 17,875 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.59 USD). 1 EUR = 20,048 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.99 EUR).

British Pound exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.756 GBP (1 GBP = 1.32 USD). 1 EUR = 0.848 GBP (1 GBP = 1.18 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Durham 12,480 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Durham

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 Durham: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Durham?
Ubud, Bali and Durham differ by about 54% in total monthly costs ($1,348 vs $2,073 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 1146% lower in Durham. 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 Durham?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,127 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,539 in Durham. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Durham?
All in, you'll spend $1,348 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,073 in Durham – a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Durham?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 1144% less than in Durham. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,073 in Durham, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Durham. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Durham?
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 Durham safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Durham are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Durham?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Durham. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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