Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and El Nido Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and El Nido

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,379 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $734 in El Nido, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,363 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,159 in El Nido, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,347 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,585 in El Nido, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 88% more than El Nido, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 1% above the global median, while El Nido is 46% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.31 Rp 58.9K

$4.72 ₱291

-29.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.08 Rp 694.5K

$30.85 ₱1,902

26.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.62 Rp 99.8K

$3.80 ₱234

47.89%

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 46.9K

$2.27 ₱140

16.30%

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

$1.58 Rp 28.2K

$1.24 ₱76.5

27.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 Rp 12.6K

$0.32 ₱19.92

121.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.73 Rp 48.5K

$1.05 ₱64.9

160.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 Rp 76.8K

$1.54 ₱94.8

180.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 Rp 27.4K

$1.85 ₱114

-16.76%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 Rp 40.8K

$1.14 ₱70.4

101.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 Rp 18.3K

$1.36 ₱83.8

-24.26%

Eggs

$2.12 Rp 37.7K

$1.91 ₱118

10.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.30 Rp 307.5K

$4.72 ₱291

266.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.03 Rp 71.6K

$3.90 ₱240

3.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.42 Rp 220.8K

$7.40 ₱456

67.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.70 Rp 65.7K

$2.36 ₱145

56.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$1.54 ₱94.7

5.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 Rp 40.3K

$2.09 ₱129

8.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 Rp 35.4K

$1.19 ₱73.3

67.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 Rp 32.5K

$2.08 ₱128

-12.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.25 Rp 40.1K

$1.95 ₱120

15.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 Rp 18.6K

$0.74 ₱45.31

40.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 Rp 10.0K

$0.56 ₱34.72

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.22 Rp 39.5K

$3.16 ₱195

-29.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.22 Rp 412.7K

$9.16 ₱564

153.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 Rp 42.5K

$1.04 ₱64.3

129.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 Rp 51.1K

$2.26 ₱139

26.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,416

$0.25 ₱15.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.17 Rp 127.4K

$11.27 ₱695

-36.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,163

$0.71 ₱43.69

-35.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,235

$0.27 ₱16.93

70.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.70 Rp 101.2K

$1.84 ₱114

209.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.6K

$1.34 ₱82.5

-43.28%

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

$24.6K Rp 436.7M

$24.0K ₱1.5M

2.39%

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

$31.0K Rp 551.5M

$20.0K ₱1.2M

55.31%

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

$82.2 Rp 1.5M

$123 ₱7,578

-33.15%

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

$6.33 Rp 112.5K

$14.36 ₱885

-55.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.54 Rp 329.6K

$24.59 ₱1,516

-24.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.1 Rp 996.2K

$35.03 ₱2,160

60.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.41 Rp 327.2K

$4.88 ₱301

277.25%

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 Rp 75.8K

$6.05 ₱373

-29.59%

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

$489 Rp 8.7M

$146 ₱9,018

234.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,793 Rp 103.0M

$8,573 ₱528.5K

-32.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.98 Rp 817.3K

$33.75 ₱2,081

36.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.86 Rp 637.4K

$20.72 ₱1,278

73.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 Rp 1.4M

$70.8 ₱4,367

12.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.9 Rp 1.4M

$54.5 ₱3,362

48.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,144 Rp 20.3M

$276 ₱17.0K

314.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$692 Rp 12.3M

$197 ₱12.1K

251.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,532 Rp 62.8M

$495 ₱30.5K

613.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,709 Rp 30.4M

$400 ₱24.7K

327.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,785 Rp 49.5M

$2,382 ₱146.9K

16.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,261 Rp 40.2M

$1,017 ₱62.7K

122.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 Rp 3.0M

$257 ₱15.8K

-34.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

6.75

104.15%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 15, 2026

Last update for El Nido: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,144 in Ubud, Bali versus $276 in El Nido. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 52% higher in El Nido, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $31.00 in El Nido. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $182 – making El Nido 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 El Nido: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,379 in Ubud, Bali, $734 in El Nido – roughly 88% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,069 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,101 in El Nido. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in El Nido, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 57% less in El Nido. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $489 per month in Ubud, Bali and $146 in El Nido. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in El Nido, where all-in costs run around $734, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,379. In El Nido it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $734 in El Nido to $1,379 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with El Nido. 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.