😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $567 in El Progreso.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Ubud, Bali versus $893 in El Progreso.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,219 in El Progreso.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 148% more expensive than El Progreso, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 4% above, El Progreso is 58% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 64.8K
$5.72HNL 153
-37.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50Rp 590.5K
$24.78HNL 661
31.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.86Rp 88.4K
$7.88HNL 210
-38.32%
Cappuccino
$2.75Rp 49.9K
$1.47HNL 39.24
87.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32Rp 24.0K
$1.01HNL 26.89
30.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.8K
$1.03HNL 27.38
-32.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.91Rp 52.9K
$1.16HNL 31.05
150.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79Rp 68.9K
$1.99HNL 53.0
90.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71Rp 31.1K
$1.29HNL 34.35
32.56%
White Bread(500g)
$2.47Rp 45.0K
$2.08HNL 55.5
18.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20Rp 21.8K
$1.22HNL 32.63
-1.64%
Eggs
$2.44Rp 44.4K
$2.04HNL 54.4
19.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.38Rp 261.3K
$4.45HNL 119
223.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.31Rp 78.2K
$3.89HNL 104
10.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.21Rp 221.8K
$7.84HNL 209
55.74%
Apples(1kg)
$3.68Rp 66.9K
$2.97HNL 79.3
23.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55Rp 28.2K
$1.44HNL 38.34
7.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.79Rp 50.6K
$1.45HNL 38.66
92.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 42.4K
$1.52HNL 40.51
53.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97Rp 35.8K
$1.60HNL 42.66
23.12%
Onion(1kg)
$2.31Rp 42.0K
$1.35HNL 35.88
71.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.3K
$0.89HNL 23.69
19.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73Rp 13.2K
$1.67HNL 44.45
-56.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28Rp 59.6K
$2.47HNL 65.9
32.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.79Rp 414.1K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81Rp 51.0K
$1.33HNL 35.58
111.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 50.5K
$1.80HNL 48.01
54.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,290
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.06Rp 146.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,159
$4.35HNL 116
-89.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 8,207
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.24Rp 113.3K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 15.4K
$1.08HNL 28.79
-21.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0KRp 471.9M
$19.5KHNL 520.2K
33.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7KRp 575.1M
$19.4KHNL 518.0K
62.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8Rp 1.5M
$80.7HNL 2,150
0.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06Rp 73.7K
$9.07HNL 242
-55.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42Rp 443.7K
$41.37HNL 1,103
-40.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$97.7Rp 1.8M
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45Rp 117.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04Rp 73.4K
$5.73HNL 153
-29.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304Rp 5.5M
$245HNL 6,538
23.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,621Rp 120.3M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2Rp 985.2K
$45.56HNL 1,214
19.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78Rp 704.4K
$35.67HNL 951
8.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.1Rp 1.6M
$111HNL 2,952
-22.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7Rp 1.4M
$103HNL 2,750
-25.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$986Rp 17.9M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$658Rp 12.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,369Rp 61.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,066Rp 37.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,741Rp 49.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,228Rp 40.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$163Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
12
10.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Last update for El Progreso: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $25.00 in El Progreso for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $181 per month, with El Progreso 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 El Progreso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is El Progreso cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
El Progreso is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 148% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,106 in Ubud, Bali and $850 in El Progreso to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and El Progreso?
Supermarket bills run roughly 64% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali vs El Progreso?
All in, you'll spend $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $567 in El Progreso – a 148% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or El Progreso?
At $567 in El Progreso versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in El Progreso but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes El Progreso the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or El Progreso more family-friendly?
For families, El Progreso is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or El Progreso?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and El Progreso are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find El Progreso gentler on the wallet – expenses run 148% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared