Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and East Lansing, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and East Lansing, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,168 in East Lansing, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,119 in East Lansing, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,071 in East Lansing, MI.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 35% less than in East Lansing, MI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 6% above, East Lansing, MI 62% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

$13.03 $13.03

-72.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$65.7 $65.7

-50.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$9.83 $9.83

-49.64%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$4.53 $4.53

-40.18%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$2.29 $2.29

-41.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$1.33 $1.33

-47.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$5.05 $5.05

-42.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

$5.05 $5.05

-21.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$0.75 $0.75

141.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

$2.84 $2.84

-11.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$4.15 $4.15

-72.05%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$2.44 $2.44

0.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

$12.51 $12.51

17.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

$11.55 $11.55

-62.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

$14.95 $14.95

-18.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

$3.92 $3.92

-2.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

$1.79 $1.79

-12.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

$3.39 $3.39

-16.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

$3.75 $3.75

-37.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$2.34 $2.34

-18.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

$1.97 $1.97

11.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$2.30 $2.30

-56.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$2.14 $2.14

-63.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

$10.09 $10.09

-67.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

$15.69 $15.69

51.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

$1.70 $1.70

64.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

$1.54 $1.54

85.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$1.59 $1.59

-83.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

$49.43 $49.43

-83.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

$2.44 $2.44

-81.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

$1.36 $1.36

-66.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

$40.37 $40.37

-84.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.82 $0.82

-3.66%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

$29.3K $29.3K

-10.64%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

$25.5K $25.5K

26.11%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$176 $176

-54.65%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

$50.5 $50.5

-91.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

$62.6 $62.6

-62.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$35.94 $35.94

174.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

$14.87 $14.87

-55.41%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

$11.14 $11.14

-62.75%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$304 Rp 5.4M

$1,477 $1,477

-79.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

$14.1K $14.1K

-53.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

$43.73 $43.73

27.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

$37.27 $37.27

2.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$68.8 $68.8

28.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$65.6 $65.6

18.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$1,242 $1,242

-18.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$1,055 $1,055

-36.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

$2,055 $2,055

67.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

$1,649 $1,649

23.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

$2,027 $2,027

40.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

$1,588 $1,588

42.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$5,999 $5,999

-97.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

6.51

103.99%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for East Lansing, MI: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $1,242 in East Lansing, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

East Lansing, MI pays 3530% 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: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $66.0 in East Lansing, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $354 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 East Lansing, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali and East Lansing, MI differ by about 53% in total monthly costs ($1,419 vs $2,168 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, East Lansing, MI earns 3530% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,242 in East Lansing, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,168 in East Lansing, MI – a 53% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 516% less than in East Lansing, MI. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,168 in East Lansing, MI, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in East Lansing, MI. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and East Lansing, MI are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in East Lansing, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.